The folks over at China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) sure know how to play hard to get. They hold all the keys to China’s 4G network dreams — without permits issued by MIIT, no company is allowed to operate a 4G network — but they have remained coy about when, exactly, they’re going to unlock the door so that China Mobile can sprint through it and start rolling out its TD LTE network.
Yesterday, MIIT Minister Miao Wei gave the latest in a long line of teases that this could finally be the year for 4G networks in China. Meeting with the Qinghai legislative delegation, the Minister said that 4G licenses could probably be issued this year. Of course, as usual, the key word there is probably. Miao also said that the domestic 4G network still needs more development both in terms of the network infrastructure that provides 4G service and also in terms of 4G handsets and other devices, which are quite thin on the ground in China (although that’s partially because MIIT doesn’t approve them).
Of course, the issuance of a 4G license this year doesn’t necessarily mean that 4G service will be commercially available in 2013. If MIIT does issue a license but waits until the end of the year, it’s possible China Mobile might not be able to launch its network nationwide until 2014. And of course, there’s still no guarantee MIIT will issue the network permits this year anyway.
Personally, I think I speak for everyone when I say: quit leading us on, MIIT! We all know you’re going to issue the permits sooner or later, so let’s just set a date and stick to that. Enough of this “maybe” and “probably” vagueness!
(People’s Daily via Sina Tech)
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