China 3G licenses update

China 3G licenses update
A hot topic as the expected dead line for releasing 3G licenses in China approaches. The hope was a little bit cooled, however, when China decided to carry out new TD-SCDMA trials in three more cities from March to July. China Telecom will carry out one of the new trials, in the northern city of Baoding. China Netcom will test the standard in Qingdao and China Mobile will conduct a trial in the southern city of Xiamen. China Unicom, China Satcom and China TieTong won't take part in the new tests . What does it mean? For sure, granting 3G licenses will not be done before the end of tests, that means the expected deadline in May is out, and could be delayed to the third quarter in 2006. On the vendor side, Ericsson also said that the issuing of 3G licenses by the Chinese government could begin by September 2006. So wait and see!