Source: Xinhua

01-08-2009 09:47

BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's telecommunications supervisor on Wednesday issued long-awaited third-generation (3G) mobile phone licenses to three mobile operators, a move that is expected to lead to billions of dollars being invested in building new networks.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) said China's biggest mobile operator, China Mobile, was awarded a license for TD-SCDMA, the domestically-developed 3G standard.

Customers try third-generation (3G) mobile phones at a China Mobile exhibition hall in Beijing, China, Jan. 7, 2009. China's telecommunications supervisor, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, on Wednesday issued the long-awaited third-generation (3G) mobile phone licenses to three mobile operators, namely China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom. (Xinhua Photo)

The other two main carriers, China Telecom and China Unicom, received licenses for the U.S.-developed CDMA2000 and Europe's WCDMA, respectively.

The 3G high-speed networks can handle faster data downloads, allowing handset users to make video calls and watch TV programs.

The MIIT also issued 23 regulations on the requirements of 3G network operation, covering such aspects as market competition, consumer rights, user information security, telecommunication charges management and facility building.

The news would also benefit the 3G network equipment and cell phone manufacturers, including ZTE Corp., Wuhan Fingu Electronic Technology Co. and Ningbo Bird Co. Ltd.