14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that things are starting to look up for the deployment of 3G networks in China. Huawei, one of the companies expected to make moves in the area, has already announced that it has managed to deploy the first WCDMA commercial network for China Unicom in Zhengzhou, Henan province, China. The company has awarded the largest market share in China Unicom' s Phase One UMTS tender, namely 30 percent of the transceivers that are to be deployed.
Huawei has succeeded in connecting the first UMTS video call for China Unicom back in February 2009, covering 20 cites, and has also informed that it expects to be able to roll out the entire UMTS network for the carrier. The cities that would be included in the deployment are Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, all expected to be covered in April this year.
“It is a milestone in our cooperation with China Unicom. Based on the rich UMTS network deployment experience, we are confident to help China Unicom quickly deploy high-quality UMTS /HSPA networks across China. Huawei is committed to working closely with operators in the development of mobile broadband solutions and through such collaboration deliver business success for our customers,” Wan Biao, president of Huawei' s Wireless Product Line, stated.
Another company to work with China Unicom for the deployment of WCDMA networks and services is Ericsson, which has recently announced that it should provide coverage for 15 Chinese provinces. The company would allow for WCDMA core and/or radio access network systems in Beijing, Jilin, Jiangsu, Hubei, Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Anhui, Henan, Hainan, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shandong, Guangdong and Hunan.
The infrastructure provider is expected to supply the WCDMA RAN system, a 2G/3G common core platform, as well as network roll-out services, spare parts, training services and tuning during the next few months. At the same time, the company will also be in charge with upgrading the operator's GSM networks in 10 provinces, including Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan and Hainan, so as to allow them to support 2G/3G interoperability functions.
“We are extremely honored to be chosen by China Unicom for the first phase of their WCDMA network deployment in China. The contract further strengthens Ericsson's position as the leading mobile communications supplier in the Chinese market and demonstrates yet again our long-term strategic partnership with China Unicom. We are confident that our undisputed technology leadership and global experience in WCDMA will contribute to the rapid expansion of China's 3G market,” Mats H Olsson, president of Ericsson Greater China, explained.