More Uncertainty Over TD-SCDMA

After earlier predicting that China would -- finally -- issue its 3G licenses in the first half of the year, Ericsson isn't so sure now, saying there's a risk they'll slip to the third quarter. The possible reason this time is that field tests of its homegrown TD-SCDMA standard aren't yet finished, even though in January, the standard was declared ready. It's anybody's guess when the licenses will actually be awarded, with some recent stories adding to the mystery by saying that the Chinese government might hold back WCDMA trial deployments to give TD-SCDMA a boost in the market. Adding to some of the confusion this week is fresh news from Qualcomm of a royalty agreement with a TD-SCDMA equipment vendor. Part of the impetus behind the development of TD-SCDMA was to avoid intellectual property issues -- and payments. Though Qualcomm hasn't yet gone after any Chinese vendors, it has royalty deals with 60 vendors outside the country in place. The question of in-country royalties -- like so many other things with TD-SCDMA -- remains unclear.

Filed Under: 3g