Tibet to welcome 3G communication epoch

2/17/2009

  BEIJING, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Tibet has started to set up basic stations based on the third-generation communication technologies, according to the local communication sector.

    The newly-established TD (Time Division) basic station of China Mobile, one of the nationa's major communication providers, was first put into use on Jan. 17, marking Tibet's entry into 3G times.

    Zhu Daiming, deputy general manager of China Mobile's Tibet Branch, said people in Lhasa are able to enjoy the services in July or earlier. By then, video calls can be made between users in the 38 cities which have 3G network, including all the provincial capitals, municipalities directly under the central government as well as Shenzhen, Dalian, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao and Baoding.
 
   "We will take advantage of various resources to develop TD-SCDMA (Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access) in Tibet," he said, "In terms of charges that people concern most, we will exercise a unified standard, which covers the same rate and suite business categories with GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), making it affordable to the most," Zhu added.

    In spite of differences in the 3G technology standards among the major providers, video calls can be made between the users either of China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom. Meanwhile, the mobile roam is available in those countries that can offer the 3G communication service.

    Zhu said those who use the 2G mobiles can enjoy this service once they switch to a 3G mobile phone and apply for it online or go to China Mobile's business hall to start it.

    China Telecom, another communication service provider in China, skilled in the mobile internet business, has launched a product named "E-surfing" to attract more customers on Dec. 22 in 2008. Following Beijing, Shanghai and Guangdong Province, Tibet branch is ready for allocating segment number of 189 of this product and initiate the 3G business in due time.