The TD-SCDMA Forum and the GSM Association have signed an agreement to cooperate on interoperability and international roaming between TD-SCDMA and WCDMA. The move could help oil the gates for the issuance of 3G licenses by the Chinese government.

 

The agreement is expected to help the government deflect possible criticism from at home and abroad. Releasing licenses in the near future will bring fewer accusations that authorities are not supporting the home-grown TD-SCDMA interface. At the same time, in the eyes of foreign players the Chinese government will likely incur less criticism that it is stalling to allow extra incubation time for the standard.