China Unicom trial network targets 4G licence
China Unicom to build pilot high-speed mobile network using technology favoured by Beijing in hope of winning government clearances
China Unicom (Hong Kong) will soon start construction of a trial network using time-division long-term evolution (TD-LTE) technology, the high-speed 4G mobile standard backed by Beijing.
By building the trial network using the favoured technology, Unicom is hoping to prepare the ground for success in gaining a 4G licence. When the mainland issued 3G licences, the first went to the government-backed standard called TD-SCDMA.
Based on the information we've received so far, our analysis is that the government might issue the fourth-generation [4G] licences in a similar way as they delivered the 3G licences
"Based on the information we've received so far, our analysis is that the government might issue the fourth-generation [4G] licences in a similar way as they delivered the 3G licences," said chairman Chang Xiaobing.
"We are looking at a number of capital cities and popular places for the TD-LTE trial network. But it's too early to be specific or to tell how much the investment will be."
TD-LTE is the high-speed standard adopted by market leader China Mobile.
Heyman Chiu, a senior research analyst at Cinda International, said China Unicom had wanted to develop the 4G standard called frequency division duplex long-term evolution (FDD-LTE), which has a smooth connection with its 3G network based on the standard WCDMA.
The mainland's second-largest wireless network operator had earlier earmarked about 80 billion yuan (HK$100.59 billion) in total capital expenditure this year. It spent only 21.6 billion yuan in the first half, compared with 38.9 billion yuan in the same period a year earlier.