China Unicom Plans 3G Launch by Year-End

China Unicom expects to start a trial WCDMA network in seven cities by the end of this year - said Chang Xiaobing, chairman and CEO of the mobile network operator. Sources within the company suggest that the seven cities will be Shanghai, Shenzhen, Foshan, Liuzhou, Zhengzhou, Baoding and Wuxi, with about 100 W-CDMA base stations in each city. 

China Unicom's regional subsidiaries, Shanghai Unicom, Shenzhen Unicom and Wuxi Unicom are understood to have already stated deploying the network infrastructure.

The company is reported to be looking to complete a roll-out in the major Chinese cities by the middle of next year with medium sized cities covered by the end of the year.

China Unicom recently said that it expects its investment in 3G networks during 2009 and 2010 to total around US$14.6 billion. The company expects its 3G network to break into operational profitability by 2013.

There have been previous reports that nationwide WCDMA tenders will be awarded before the end of this year - before the 3G licenses have been formally awarded to the operators.

Posted to the site on 25th November 2008