Shanghai Mobile said it will set up 666 new signal base stations by August to support the country's third generation cell phone service.

The Shanghai branch of China's largest cell phone operator also said it will have 3,000 stations downtown by then.

China Mobile launched 3G trial services in Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Qinhuangdao, Xiamen, Shanghai and Guangzhou on April 1.

People can purchase the TD-SCDMA (time division-synchronous code division multiple access) phones and subscribe to the 3G services, with a number starting with the digits 157, from China Mobile.

TD-SCDMA is a 3G technology developed by China. Its maturity will lead to the regulator issuing 3G licenses, including TD-SCDMA, CDMA2000 and WCDMA (wideband CDMA), according to industry insiders.

Most 3G services -- from video conferencing, film downloads and games -- are data rich that depend on high-speed networks.

The TD-SCDAM signal offers coverage within the city's Outer Ring Road, at the airports, around the Formula One circuit and hotels, and along Metro lines.

Some users among the first batch of the 3G consumers have found problems including short battery life, less-than-expected network signal coverage and high fees for data services.

Some complained that the coverage of the TD-SCDMA network, which allows users to access high-speed Internet, was not satisfactory and was not stable.

(Shanghai Daily April 18, 2008)