A Chinese official reiterated Saturday the government's commitment that China
would offer 3G service in 2008 when the Olympic Games will be held.
"We
would observe our commitment to the International Olympic Committee and provide
3G service in cities where Olympic games are held," said Xu Qin, director of
hi-tech industrial department with the National Development and Reform
Commission.
Minister of Information Industry Wang Xudong said last year
that 3G service would be available during the 2008 Olympics in China. Experts
believe that, in a bid to realize that goal, the government should issue the
licenses no later than the end of this year.
However, the ongoing final
trial of China's home-grown technology TD-SCDMA made the prospect for China's 3G
unclear.
"TD-SCDMA is one of the international standards recognized by
the International Telecom Union and is developing smoothly," said Xu, adding
that the technology and related products are getting mature. But the official
did not reveal any detailed schedule and plan.
The official also said
that China would participate in research of Beyond-3G or 4G technologies but he
warned of possible challenges for new generation of mobile technologies.
As mobile communication strives for faster transmission speed, visual
service would be one of the important applications for 4G. But it would face
competition from TV broadcast and may be hard to get popular, said
Xu.
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