China Telecom (CHA.NYSE, 0728.HKG) has chosen Alcatel-Lucent (ALU.NYSE) as its 4G technology supplier for a nationwide trial of high-speed mobile broadband, Reuters reported. Alcatel-Lucent will supply 9,892 base stations in 12 Chinese provinces, which is similar to the amount demanded to provide coverage in a country the size of France. The latest contract comes around three months after Alcatel won a share of 4G contracts worth around US$3.2 billion from China Mobile (CHL.NYSE, 0941.HKG). The world’s largest market in terms of subscribers, mobile data services and smart phones are becoming more important for Alcatel-Lucent whose most profitable country still remains the US.