.contact us |.about us
News > Business News ...
Search:
    Advertisement
China Unicom eyes CDMA-GSM link
( 2003-09-17 15:01) (Bloomberg News)

China United Telecommunications Corp (China Unicom), the nation's second-largest cell-phone company, said it has successfully tested a US-based Qualcomm Inc technology designed to link the world's two most widely used wireless standards.

The system that uses code division multiple access technology to transmit phone calls and Internet data over its global system for mobile communications network "works very much according to our requirements," Ju Zhenguo, manager of China United's Suzhou branch in Jiangsu Province, said.

Linking CDMA to GSM networks may boost Qualcomm's efforts to win customers for its latest technology, which sends data fast enough to allow users to receive movie clips. China United's 21-month-old network in the country using Qualcomm's standard - used by 164 million people compared with 850 million for GSM - needs a boost as it has fallen short of targets.

"It's an interesting technology," said Niq Lai, an analyst with Credit Suisse First Boston in Hong Kong. Making it commercially viable may be a challenge, he said, because "there isn't much global acceptance of this combination."

Qualcomm shipped equipment for the trial in Suzhou in April. A successful trial will allow China United, the world's first phone company to test the GSM1X standard, to upgrade its older GSM network and merge it with its CDMA network. The company's Hong Kong-listed unit China Unicom Ltd said it signed up 4.8 million CDMA customers in the first seven months, trailing its target for 11.4 million new users this year.

Billions of dollars ride on which standard phone firms choose to upgrade networks to sell services such as movie-clip downloads. Linking the rival standards would open a new option to more than 500 GSM operators, including China Mobile, to use San Diego-based Qualcomm's technology to offer faster services.

Qualcomm Chairman and Chief Executive Irwin Jacobs and China United Vice President Zhang Fan are scheduled to announce the test results in Suzhou today.

The experiment, originally estimated to take about a month, was put on hold in May because of SARS. China United's Ju wouldn't say when the technology may be commercially available, or whether any handset makers agreed to supply phones.

Spending by Chinese phone companies on networks rose 45 percent to 93 billion yuan (US$11.2 billion) in the first seven months of the year, government statistics show.

 
Close  
   
  Today's Top News   Top Business News
   
+WHO: Bird flu death rises to 15; vaccination recommended
(2004-02-05)
+Solana: EU ready to lift China arms embargo
(2004-02-05)
+Nation tops TV, cell phone, monitor production
(2004-02-05)
+Absence ... still makes China hot
(2004-02-05)
+Hu: Developing world in key role
(2004-02-04)
+KFC: We operate normally in China despite bird flu outbreaks
(2004-02-05)
+Starbucks takes aim at China chain
(2004-02-05)
+Former Microsoft China chief gets new job
(2004-02-05)
+Private airline prepared for take off
(2004-02-05)
+Investors lured by call of siren
(2004-02-05)
   
  Go to Another Section  
     
 
 
     
  Article Tools  
     
 
 
     
  Related Articles  
     
 

+Telecom co turns the corner
2003-08-08

+SingTel, China Telecom sign pact to provide services in China
2003-08-13

+Cut-price 'Little Smart' a big hit in China
2003-08-17

+Vendors gear up for Chinese year of 3G
2003-08-27

+Regulators to optimize telecom market
2003-08-28

+China Unicom's 12% income rise lags forecasts
2003-08-30

+Accounting at China Unicom triggers concern
2003-09-01

+Netcom enters fixed-line market
2003-09-02

+Unicom: CDMA revenues to surpass costs
2003-09-02

+China Telecom to pay up to 10 billion dollars for six networks
2003-09-12

+China Telecom launchs broadband brand
2003-09-16

   
        .contact us |.about us
  Copyright By chinadaily.com.cn. All rights reserved