China To Start Tests Of 3G Phones

March 28, 2008 9:06 a.m. EST

Beijing, Chna (AHN) - China Mobile Communications, the largest cellular provider in this mobile-hungry nation, said Friday it will begin next week trials of TD-SCDMA, a home-grown cell phone standard designed to replace technology used elsewhere in the world. The tests will cover 20,000 phones in eight cities in China.

TD-SCDMA would allow Chinese mobile carriers to avoid paying licensing fees for WCDMA or CDMA-2000, the two dominant global 3G protocols.

Chinese regulators gave no sign how long the tests would last, but the government has said they'd like a 3G phone network up and running by the start of this summer's Olympic games in the capital city.

Although TD-SCMA was created in 2001, it has garnered little support outside China. Nokia and Motorola said they'll produce handsets based on the standard after 3G licenses are handed out.