Mobile phones based on the Chinese home-grown 3G (third generation) mobile communications standard, TD-SCDMA, are expected to be commercialized by the end of next year, a major industry figure said.

There were some breakthroughs in the development of TD-SCDMA mobile phones in the past year, according to Yang Hua, secretary-general of TD-SCDMA Industrial Alliance.

Yet, commercialization of such mobile phones is still lagging behind the commercialization of network equipment.

"A year ago, we only saw 'samples' of such mobile phones," said Yang.

But at the ongoing PT/Expo Comm China 2005, a major telecoms show, 14 mobile phone makers including Samsung are displaying such mobile phone models, an indication that the commercialization of TD-SCDMA mobile phones is picking up speed, he said.

Mobile phone and chip makers need to make substantial efforts to improve their TD-SCDMA phones, in areas such as stand-by time, Yang noted.

The development of the phones themselves is crucial to the success of 3G telephony.

In comparison, TD-SCDMA network equipment is already for commercial roll-out.

TD Tech Ltd, a joint venture between Siemens and Huawei, has already launched a full set of commercial TD-SCDMA network products and displayed them at the PT/Expo Comm China 2005.

Yang expected more and more commercial TD-SCDMA network equipment to be launched on a large scale.

TD Tech Chief Executive Officer Steven Yeo said TD-SCDMA will be a great success as the development of chips and mobile phones is catching up rapidly, and the recently opened Open-Lab of TD Tech, which enables mobile phone makers to test TD-SCDMA handsets, is speeding up the development and maturity of the phones.

"The homegrown standard will create a big opportunity for China's telecoms industry due to the technical advantages of the standard itself as well as strong backing from the government," he said.

"We must ensure the standard success in China, and then we will be able to promote the standard worldwide."

(China Daily October 24, 2005)