China Mobile Launches TD-LTE Tender

The world’s largest cellco by subscribers, China Mobile, has launched a tender for the construction of its 4G TD-LTE networks across the country. On 21 June the operator posted a tender notice saying it plans to purchase equipment for 207,000 base stations in 31 provinces, and that equipment vendors which are interested and qualified can obtain bidding applications from the company. Interested parties are required to submit the documents and attend a public bid opening on 15 July. China Mobile is expected to spend CNY190.2 billion (USD30.5 billion) in 2013, of which around CNY42 billion has been earmarked for 4G projects. According to Telecomasia.net, China Mobile carried out large-scale TD-LTE trials using approximately 20,000 base stations in 15 cities last year, and has already deployed pre-commercial TD-LTE networks in Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. It plans to expand commercial-ready TD-LTE networks to 100 cities this year.