China has granted 4G network licences to the nation’s three state-controlled carriers: China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.
The ministry of industry and information technology announced today that the three companies have been awarded TD-LTE…
China has granted 4G network licences to the nation’s three state-controlled carriers: China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom.
The ministry of industry and information technology announced today that the three companies have been awarded TD-LTE standard licences, providing no further details. China is also reportedly expected to award FDD-LTE standard licences in 2014.
Both China Mobile and China Unicom, number one and two respectively, acknowledged the 4G licence award in a statement, with China Mobile adding it has also received a licence to operate fixed-line telecoms services.
Meanwhile, China Telecom, the nation’s smallest mobile operator, said in a stock exchange filing it will apply for a licence for the FDD-LTE standard as soon as practicable. The telco plans to adopt a “flexible approach” to deploying LTE, overlaying it on its 3G network.
Services will initially be rolled out in densely-populated areas, the company noted, adding that the issue of 4G licences will aid the telecoms sector’s development, but also intensify competition.
