China Mobile expands 4G trial

The world’s largest mobile network operator China Mobile (CHL.NYSE, 0941.HKG) is looking to expand a trial this year of its fourth-generation (4G) high-speed wireless system, South China Morning Post reported. A 4G trial made significant progress last year, Director of the telecommunications department at the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology Zhang Feng said, leading to the expansion on the mainland of its 2-year-old 4G network test, according to a Bloomberg report. In August, the mobile operator announced that a total of 200,000 4G base stations would be in service in 2013, a huge step from a prediction of 20,000 by the end of this year. Macquarie Capital Securities analyst Lisa Soh said on Wednesday that even under an expanded deployment across the mainland, China Mobile will remain “the major driver of 4G trials.”