China Mobile Unveils 2013 TD-LTE Terminal Strategy
C114, 1/23/13
Wang Hengjiang, director of the products division of China Mobile Terminal, the terminals subsidiary of China Mobile (NYSE: CHL; 0941.HK), has revealed the company's 2013 TD-LTE terminal development strategy. "We plan to adopt multi-mode, multi-band terminals, with basic terminals supporting 5 modes and 10 spectrum bands, and ideally supporting 5 modes and 12 bands. By 2014 we will require that terminals support Band 41," explained Wang. Band 41 (2500 MHz-2690 MHz) was recently allocated for TD-LTE usage by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
In terms of LTE data products, China Mobile will develop its customer-premises equipment (CPE) and data card offerings through a focus on MiFi mobile hotspots. China Mobile will begin "friendly user" trials of LTE MiFi and other related products in the first half of 2013. The company will distribute MiFi trial products in Q1 2013 and expects that the service will mature enough in Q2 2013 to begin commercial trial preparations.
In terms of LTE mobile handset products, the company will launch "friendly user" LTE handset trials in the second half of 2013. China Mobile will distribute trial LTE handsets in Q3 2013 and anticipates that it will begin commercial trial preparations in Q4 2013.
Keywords: timetable China Mobile handset spectrum strategy wireless MIIT data card commercial trial CHL TD-LTE 0941.HK Wang Hengjiang China Mobile Terminal 4G MiFi