3G licence issue likely by early 2004

Licences for next generation mobile telephone services are likely to be awarded by early next year, reported China Daily, quoting an unnamed expert at the Ministry of Information Industry. He said most technological problems had been solved and the time was becoming ripe for the launch of 3G in China. Following government approval, "mobile operators can begin to invest next year and deploy networks. The market will therefore take shape by 2005," he said.