The GSM Association is visiting China to persuade the Chinese government to adopt WCDMA as the standard for the country's third generation (3G) of mobile telecommunications.

Rob Conway, the CEO of the GSM Association, the Ireland-based global trade association which exists to enhance the interests of GSM (global system for mobile communications) mobile operators, said China will have a unique opportunity to expand its global leadership in the mobile industry if it applies the standard.

"China is already a major force in global mobile communications,'' said Conway, "WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) greatly expands the opportunities for China as a 3G standard chose by 85 per cent of the world's operator community.''

The Chinese government has to choose from three 3G standards -- the self-developed TD-SCDMA (time division synchronous code division multiple access), the European-based WCDMA and the US-based CDMA2000.

The TD-SCDMA is regarded as least mature compared with the other two 3G standards.

WCDMA is widely accepted as a natural, technically logical and easier standard for GSM to progress into 3G.

CDMA2000 was developed by the US firm Qualcomm Inc.

Some 95.5 per cent of China's 230 million subscribers use GSM and the WCDMA, making it the natural 3G choice for China, Conway said.

"GSM is the world's biggest commercial co-operative. The true importance of seamless international roaming, that can only be delivered by GSM, will become increasingly apparent as World Trade Organization membership and the 2008 Beijing Olympics stimulate business travel and tourism to and from China,'' Conway said.

Conway is here on a six-day visit, during which he will meet government officials and senior decision makers to discuss the 3G standard.

The visit includes meetings with the Ministry of Information Industry (MII), where the association will continue dialogue with key ministry officials, including Minister Wang Xudong.

"We are very pleased the MII and other Chinese ministries regard the association as an authoritative source on developments in the mobile industry worldwide,'' Conway said.

Experts said the MII is expected to issue the 3G licence late this year or earlier next year.

Some 12 WCDMA networks have already been launched commercially. And a second wave of at least 40 operators are expected to launch it within the next 12 months.

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