CChina Mobile has brought out a $3.1 billion tender for its TD SCDMA network ($2.6 billion on network equipment and $500 million on handsets).

China Mobile has brought out a $3.1 billion tender for its TDSCDMA network ($2.6 billion on network equipment and $500 million on handsets). The company intends to award contracts to eight vendors for building the national network: four each for radio access and core networks. Datang Mobile Communications Equipment, ZTE Corporation, China Putian and TD Tech are being evaluated for the radio access contract. And Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Ericsson AB and ZTE Corporation are the key contenders for the core network contract. The Chinese companies have partnered with foreign companies for the bid.

TD Tech is a $100 million partnership between Siemens AG and Huawei Technologies, while Nokia has a 49 per cent share in a $111 million joint venture with China Putian. Ericsson has partnered with ZTE while Alcatel Shanghai Bell has tied up with Datang.