China's homegrown 3G technology standard, TD-SCDMA is mature enough for large scale networks and has bridged the gap in China's telecommunication history.

According to officials from the Ministry of Information Industry, the trial operation has been stable and the breakthrough is a good example of enterprise-driven innovation in 3G mobile telecom services after many years of efforts.

TD-SCDMA is competing against Europe-initiated WCDMA and US-backed CDMA 2000.

In 1997, China's Datang Telecom Technology Co. submitted the TD-SCDMA standard to the International Telecommunication Union(ITU) so that China can have its own 3G standard.

With support from the Ministry of Information Industry, Datang and eight other companies formed a 3G research union. Currently 50 Chinese companies have joined the union to research in systems, chips, testing instruments and environments.

A team of 10 thousand technicians and researchers have involved in the research, development and market promotion in 3G mobile telecoms services. Four systems have been developed and nearly a score of mobile phones and data cards have been produced.

China has obtained more than 100 patents in key technologies in 3Gs(third generation) services, which are said to provide quicker transmission and combine calling services, with extras like information downloading, e-mail and instant messaging.

The MII official said that the breakthrough in TD-SCDMA standard is of great significance in China's status in the world telecommunication field. The process of researching in 3G services also helps China establish a huge team of technicians and a huge industrial chain for future innovation and market.

The MII holds that the model of government's support of business to promote technological innovation will be a good example for future development.

Meanwhile, China's Southeast University and Dongda Communication Co. have jointly developed the country's first chip for WCDMA mobile phones, a major step forward in the 3G drive.Enjoying 16 domestic and foreign patents, the chip, named Noah3000, has passed the systematic test on communication and data transmission, showing it meets the requirements of WCDMA international standards, according to sources with the university. The new chip has a data transmission speed two to three times faster than those with CDMA 2000 technology. It is also characterized by low power consumption, the sources said.

By People's Daily Online