telecom - Three candidates for 3G emerge

While anything might still go in the run toward the 3G licenses, Analysys in Beijing says it believes three parties might be able to actually deliver the expensive networks that might be necessary, according to the South China Morning Post, here in a copy at Asia Media.
Only China Mobile and China Telecom have pockets that are deep enough to roll out the networks when the licenses are issued in the second half of 2006. China Netcom and China Unicom could formate a third provider, if they would merge, said its senior analyst Cui Xiaolong.
China Mobile would have an advantage with its current 250 million mobile customers, but because of its preference to expand its GSM-system rather than roll out the Chinese standard TD-SCDMA it might not be the first to get a 3G licence.