China Unicom's 3G venture remains on trackChina Unicom Hong Kong Limited (CHU), the second largest wireless service provider in China, has reportedly commenced commercial trials of its 3G wireless services in an additional 44 Chinese cities, thereby increasing its 3G coverage to a total of 100 cities.Following the recently concluded restructuring of the Chinese telecom industry, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China issued three 3G licenses in early 2009 with China Unicom being awarded the license for WCDMA, a widely adopted 3G technology with approximately 70% share of worldwide 3G subscribers.China Unicom has already launched commercial trials for its 3G services in 55 cities (including Beijing and Shanghai) in May 2009, and plans to cover 284 cities by the end of the year with 74% ...

China, the world's biggest nation by population, also harbors the largest number of wireless users in the world. China Mobile (CHL) remains the incumbent Chinese wireless carrier with a 70% market share, well ahead of the second-place China Unicom (CHU). However, the recently concluded restructuring of the Chinese telecom industry has intensified domestic competition by allowing an additional market entrant.As per the restructuring mandate, China Unicom merged with China Netcom (a leading fixed-line service provider) and sold its CDMA wireless business to the largest fixed-line operator, China Telecom (CHA), for RMB 110 billion (US$16 billion), creating two entities offering wireless and fixed-line services in China.Following the overhaul of the Chinese telecom industry, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China issued three 3G wireless licenses in early 2009. China Mobile was awarded the license for ...