- Following the launch of its first mobile phone based on China's homegrown TD-SCDMA (Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) technology in October, 2009, Nokia recently entered into a long-term cooperation agreement with ST-Ericsson, with an aim to strengthen both companies' market presence in China, the Sina Tech News reported on December 24. Through the alliance, ST-Ericsson will provide its Symbian-based chipsets for use in TD-SCDMA devices manufactured by Nokia. Meanwhile, Nokia recently also announced that the company will set up a R&D team focusing on TD-SCDMA in Beijing. ST-Ericsson has invested massively into TD-SCDMA technology and products through its Chinese subsidiary T3G in the past six years.

 

- The combined number of 3G mobile phone users in China reached 9.77 million by the end of October, 2009, the China Daily News reported on December 16, citing China's MIIT (Ministry of Industry and Information Technology). Three leading Chinese telecom operators, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, have earmarked over 102 billion RMB (US$15 billion; US$1 = 6.8 RMB) for 3G network construction, less than the investment amount initially estimated at 143.5 billion RMB (US$21.1 billion). Of the total 9.77 million registered 3G users, around 3.94 million users subscribed to China Mobile's 3G services as of the end of October, 2009.