China Starts Building 3G Trials

Just when you thought it was never going to get around to doing so, China has begun building large-scale trial networks based on its TD-SCDMA standard, according to “industry participants”. The trial described is in Shanghai and involves two core networks and 16 base stations.
The move has fueled expectations that the Chinese government will soon issue a TD-SCDMA licence to China Telecom, and also that the trial is intended to give a head-start to the local technology which is far less mature than overseas rivals.
The 3G licences pretty much have to be issued within a few months to give the Chinese telecoms the time required to build the systems in time for the 2008 Olympics (even if the service is only offered in the areas where events are held).
Related stories:
China To Finally Get 3G In Early 2006
TD-SCDMA Lags Behind
China 3G Telecoms Standard Does Poorly in Tests-Paper

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