Three Taiwanese mobile operators are negotiating to build trial networks based on the TD-SCDMA technology, a move that will significantly boost the mainland's homegrown 3G standard.
An industry association disclosed the talks after the Industrial Technology Research Institute of Taiwan, an official research organisation, and Datang Telecom Technology, the mainland company that owns the TD-SCDMA patent, signed an agreement last week to study the possibility of building a TD-SCDMA trial network on the island.
The TD-SCDMA Industry Alliance, a mainland industry organisation pursuing development of the technology, yesterday said negotiations were in progress with Chunghwa Telecom and Far EasTone Telecommunications on a possible partnership in the trial network.
'We can confirm that we are in talks with the Taiwanese operators on a possible alliance in building a TD-SCDMA trial network in Taiwan,' said Yang Hua, the secretary-general of the industry alliance, in a telephone interview yesterday. However, he declined to comment on the details of the discussions, as no final agreement has been reached yet.
It is understood that Vibo Telecom, the smallest mobile operator in Taiwan, is also interested in the project.
A trial network in Taiwan will be a milestone for the homegrown 3G standard as it seeks to gain overseas recognition.
South Korea was the first country outside the mainland to have a TD-SCDMA trial network, which has been in operation since 2007.
