Tibet welcomes 3G communication epoch

Details: Category: Wireless Networks; 03 June 2009; 9063 views

Exploiting TD technology from China Mobile nationally, the Tibetan branch of China Mobile is bringing 3G to this remote land. People in the capital Lhasa will soon be able to enjoy video phone calls to 38 cities whether China Mobile, China Unicom or China Telecom. Roaming will also be available to those countries that are running 3G...

Tibet has started to install 3G base stations, according to the local news agency. Newly-established Time Division (TD) base stations from China Mobile, one of the nation's major communication providers, were first brought into use on January 17, marking Tibet's entry into the 3G era. Tibet News Web is the main source for this report.

Zhu Daiming, Deputy General Manager of China Mobile's Tibet Branch, said that people in Lhasa will be able to enjoy the services in July, if not earlier. By then, video calls can be made between users in the 38 Tibetan cities which have 3G network, including all the provincial capitals and those municipalities directly under 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," Zhu Daiming said, "In terms of charges, and that concerns people most of all, we will implement a unified tariff which covers the same rate and suite business categories as GSM, making 3G affordable to the majority."

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

Zhu Daiming said that those who use 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.

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