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China last week approved long-awaited licenses for 3G mobile networks, a move expected to trigger investment levels of about US$41 billion over the next two years. The country's State Council, its highest government body, gave the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) the go-ahead to distribute 3G licenses, which are expected to be awarded in the next few weeks. Although the announcement did not specify which companies would receive licenses, it is widely expected that market-leader China Mobile will be assigned the Chinese-developed TD-SCDMA standard, whilst global 3G standards WCDMA and CDMA2000 1xEV-DO will go to China Unicom and China Telecom, respectively. Last week it was reported that China Mobile has agreed to lease the TD-SCDMA network being built by its parent, China Mobile Communications (CMCC), and will pay a maximum of CNY1 billion (US$146 million) during 2009.  

Lisa

from Asia Business * Asia - Europe Business

China Unicom added 996,000 GSM subscribers in November to reach 132.941 million GSM users. The company's broadband network added 234,000 users to reach 25.438 million by the end of the period while fixed-line subscribers were down 1.52 million to 105.017 million. China Netcom, including its broadband and fixed-line networks, was merged into China Unicom effective October 15.

China Telecom had 210.37 million fixed-line subscribers, down 1.51 million month-on-month, and 43.57 million total broadband subscribers, up 690,000 from October, by November 31. The company recorded 27.97 million mobile subscribers, including CDMA and PHS users, for its second month of mobile reporting, down 430,000 from last month. China Unicom began transferring the CDMA network to Telecom at the end of September.

China Mobile added 6.87 million new subscribers to its network in November to reach 450.179 million total subscribers.

Lisa

from Asia Business * Asia - Europe Business

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) announced that the GSM Association has approved China's Telecommunication Terminal Testing & Approval Forum to issue international mobile equipment identity numbers for TD-SCDMA and GSM handsets. IMEI issuing was previously limited to the British Approvals Board of Telecommunications and North America's PCS Type Certification Review Board, said the MIIT announcement. More than 200 handsets have already applied to the domestic regulator for equipment ids.

Lisa

from Asia Business * Asia - Europe Business

China had 290 million Internet users by the end of November, reported by MIIT. Domestic Internet users came in at about 281 million by mid-October, while China Internet Network Information Center data showed 253 million users by June 30, 2008.

Lisa

from Asia Business * Asia - Europe Business

China Mobile had recorded a total of 337,000 TD-SCDMA users - 4,000 free trial users, 105,000 Olympic users and 78,000 TD-SCDMA handset users subscribing to the GSM network. By December 3, the telecom giant began operation of a total of 17,672 TD-SCDMA base stations with total capacity to support 9.5 million users. China Mobile is scheduled to have a total of 145,000 base stations to cover 95% of China's prefecture-level cities by 2011. Integration of the TD-SCDMA and GSM networks will be completed at the end of December, after which users can access the TD-SCDMA service with their existing GSM network numbers and cards.

China Mobile had 175,000 TD-SCDMA network users by August 24 - 104,000 free trial users, 60,000 Olympic users and 11,000 TD-SCDMA handset users subscribing to the GSM network.

Lisa

from Asia Business * Asia - Europe Business