China Mobile Communications Corp (CMCC), parent of Hong Kong-listed China Mobile Ltd, is expected to soon invite bids for a new round of network trials on the Chinese standard for third generation (3G) mobile communication, according to industry sources.

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"CMCC has already contacted equipment manufacturers to build TD-SCDMA networks in five cities," said a source with a TD-SCDMA equipment vendor.

The TD-SCDMA standard was in part developed by the Chinese Academy of Telecommunications Technology in an effort to employ home-grown technology.

"The bidding process will start after the Spring Festival holiday (February 18) at the earliest," the vendor said.

The five cities scheduled to use the new standard are Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Qinhuangdao and Shenyang. All the five networks will be built by CMCC.

CMCC is already testing the home-grown TD-SCDMA standard in Xiamen, while fixed-line carrier China Telecom operates trial TD-SCDMA networks in Shanghai and Baoding. No 2 fixed-line telephone operator China Netcom is testing the technology in Qingdao and Beijing.

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