Looking to increase the international profile of its homegrown 3G technology, China's TD-SCDMA (Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) Alliance will add Italy-based STMicroelectronics as the first foreign company to the body. Moreover, the alliance is also seeking cooperation from ten other major equipment suppliers, including Siemens and Nokia.

 

With the TD-SCDMA drive in full swing in China, a supply chain supporting this technology has emerged. Equipment providers include Datang Mobile, ZTE, Huawei, and China Putian. Alliance members such as T3G, Commit, CCIT (Chongqing Chongyou Information Technology) and STMicroelectronics are currently developing TD-SCDMA chips, while Datang Mobile and CCIT are capable of producing handsets.

 

In addition to the homegrown standard, the Chinese government is also conducting tests on the other two 3G standards, WCDMA (Wideband CDMA) and CDMA2000, and is expected to release results in early November 2004.