Source: CCTV.com

05-01-2009 12:30

In the first installment, we reported how the issuance of 3G licenses in January has generated a lot of excitement, especially in these times of economic hardship. Many are pinning their hopes that the licenses and the roll out of 3G in China will inject some much needed cash into the economy.

In the second of our five part series, our reporter Guan Xin takes a close look at the three telecom operators who have been awarded the licenses, their timetables and latest developments, and how the competition is heating up.

In the next installment, we look at one of the 3G standards -- China’s own TD-SCDMA technology, and why its successful development represents such a technological milestone for the country.

It’s crunch time.

China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom are all scrambling to roll out their 3G commercial services as quickly, and as competitively as possible. China Mobile, the country’s largest operator, has managed to beat its competitors to the punch. The company began commercial trials of its 3G service in January. China Telecom followed two months later, while China Unicom hopes to begin some time this month.