Mobile operator strategies - 29/12/05

China Telecom is believed to build a nationwide network (worth $5bn) based on home-made 3G mobile standard TD-SCDMA. China Telecom has already set up a large-scale TD-SCDMA-based trial network in Shanghai with two core networks and 16 base stations.

Vodafone has chosen Milan (Italy) as as the headquarters of the Quality Centre for all of the products, services and contents of the Entertainment world.

KDDI and Qualcomm will team to explore broadcasting wireless video programming; they will form MediaFlo Japan Planning, a joint venture to examine licensing spectrum necessary to build a MediaFlo network in Japan.

DTAC, Thailand's leading cell-phone operator intends to spend $293m to expand its networks beyond the Bangkok region, and increase its number of base stations by 600 to 1500.

Telefonica Moviles has bought another 8% of Telefonica Moviles Mexico for $210m, from Mexican businessman Alejandro Burillo.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (USA) said that reallocating government spectrum for 3G would cost $936m.