Chinese TV Agency Denies Plans for $14.5 Billion WiMAX Network

China's State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) has denied reports that it was planning to spend RMB 100 billion (US$14.5 billion) on building a WiMAX network in 30 cities. The reports came out last week following comments by Paul Lin, general director of the Information and Communications Research Laboratories at the Industrial Technology Research Institute.

The Commercial Times initially reported that SARFT is expected to set aside the 700MHz spectrum for urban wireless networks. Xiamen Mobile is cooperating with China Mobile to develop a wireless broadband network in Xiamen, while Nanjing and Hangzhou are already working on their WiMax networks.

However, the rumour was put down over the weekend in a statement to the Interfax news agency, although they noted the denial could be due to the details not being finalised - with a formal announcement due later.

SARFT (State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television) is an executive branch under the State Council of the People's Republic of China. Its main task is the administration and supervision of state-owned enterprises engaged in the television, radio, and film industries.

On the web: Interfax - Commercial Times - SARFT

Posted to the site on 7th June 2009