Lucent Technologies is to participate in China's
upcoming field trials of third-generation mobile telephone
technologies through work with two local carriers.
The company will work with China Telecom on CDMA2000 (Code
Division Multiple Access) trials in Guangzhou and with China
Network Communications Group on W-CDMA (Wideband CDMA) trials in
Shanghai.
The trials will involve both data and voice and use spectrum
around 2.1GHz that will be later licensed for commercial
services.
In mid-November, Chinese state-run media said the Ministry of
Information Industry will require all six of the country's
telecommunication operators, including those that do not offer
cellular service, to carry out 3G trials using TD-SCDMA (Time
Division Synchronous CDMA), which has been largely developed in
China.
The TD-SCDMA trials will take place in Beijing, Shanghai,
Chongqing and Chengdu,. Carriers have the option to test other 3G
technologies and that appears to be what China Telecom and China
Netcom are planning to do with the help of Lucent.
Martyn Williams writes for IDG News Service