China: TD-SCDMA Ready

Officials from China’s Ministry of Information Industry have stated that TD-SCDMA (China’s homegrown 3G technology) is now mature enough for large scale networks following a trial operation that “has been stable”. Details of the trial operation aren’t given.
Whether or not the technology can compete on its own merits with other 3G technologies remains to be seen, but many people will (perhaps optimistically) view the news as further evidence that China might be ready to issue 3G licenses…
Another interesting aspect of the article: “China has obtained more than 100 patents in key technologies in 3Gs(third generation) services, which are said to provide quicker transmission and combine calling services, with extras like information downloading, e-mail and instant messaging.”
Even if TD-SCDMA doesn’t get off the ground anywhere but China some of those patents might give it a foothold into the intellectual property of the telecommunications world, which was the aim all along… (via TechDirt)
Related stories:
China Starts Building 3G Trials
China To Finally Get 3G In Early 2006
TD-SCDMA Lags Behind

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