China Telecom, which took over China Unicom's CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) business in June as part of China's telecommunications industry restructuring, has initiated a series of measures to boost its CDMA operations, according to Xinhua News.

A tender was opened by China Telecom for 10 million value-line CDMA mobile phones, as a means to convert the company's PHS (Personal Handy-phone System) subscribers to its CDMA service. According to the Xinhua report citing Shanghai Securities News, 23 manufacturers participated in the tender. Results of the tender have not yet been announced.

Furthermore, China Telecom has earmarked 27 billion RMB (US$3.96 billion; US$1=6.82 RMB) to 30 billion RMB (US$4.40 billion) for its CDMA business development in 2008. The company has launched another tender valued at 17 billion RMB for the CDMA network upgrade, aiming to expand network coverage to the rural regions.