4G telecom technology standards for 2008-09

China has not yet got 3G (which stands for third generation) mobile communication up and running as yet. It is in trial mode and this will extend dramatically through the last months of this year and the early part of next. It is essential that it is up and running well in time for the Olympics.

Looking beyond that to the next generation according to Wen Ku, director of the Department of Science & Technology at the Ministry and Information Industry, China plans to submit home-grown fourth-generation (4G) mobile technology standards to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) between 2008 and 2009.

This is pretty important stuff. 4G takes the last barrier away from totally portable communication.

With it the difference between a mobile phone and a computer and a PDA, a personal digital assistant, ceases to be relevant. The machine that communicates can be call anything you like. All you know is that you have very fast access to the Internet wherever you may be.

The ITU earlier announced it will solicit 4G technology standards from countries all over the world starting next year, and that the final technology will be put to commercial use around 2010.

Wen told reporters that China has already formed an improved TD-SCDMA industry chain, including system, terminal, chip, software and instruments. He said some advanced services, including wireless streaming media and wireless broadband services, are under preparation based on the current TD-SCDMA network trial in ten Chinese cities.