Handsets

Tue 16 Sep 2008 19:18

China Telecom to procure 55 mln CDMA mobile phones in 2009

To procure 55 million CDMA phones next year sounds like a very aggressive plan and unlikely to be carried out.

Shanghai. September 16. INTERFAX-CHINA - China Telecommunications Corp. (China Telecom) intends to procure 55 million CDMA mobile phones in 2009, Chinese media reported on Sept. 16, citing a senior company official.

Yang Xiaowei, deputy general manager of China Telecom, was quoted by Sina.com as saying at the recent 2008 China CDMA Industry Development Forum in Guangdong Province that China Telecom's headquarters will continue to centralize the procurement of CDMA mobile phones, and the company will procure 55 million CDMA mobile phones in 2009.

China Telecom will also push for support for Web browsing, push mail and WLAN (wireless local area network) functionalities on CDMA phones and encourage vendors to switch their focus from low-cost CDMA phones to mid-range and high-end phones, he said. There are now approximately 30 manufacturers capable of supplying CDMA mobile phones.

"To procure 55 million CDMA phones next year sounds like a very aggressive plan and unlikely to be carried out. China Telecom is probably just saying that to give vendors confidence," Will Kong, an analyst from iSuppli Asia Ltd., told Interfax.

China Telecom, the largest fixed-line operator in China, is taking over the CDMA business of China Unicom under a government-mandated telecom industry restructure.

To procure 55 million CDMA mobile phones next year means China Telecom aims to gain approximately 55 million new CDMA subscribers in the year, or approximately 5 million subscribers each month, Kong said. "This is very ambitious - close to China Mobile's monthly subscriber addition," he said.

Currently, China Mobile gains about 7 million new subscribers each month and China Unicom gains about 1 million.

In preparation for its CDMA business, China Telecom recently procured 5 million CDMA mobile phones from manufacturers including Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Motorola Inc., ZTE Corp., Yulong Computer Telecommunications Scientific (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. and Hisense Electric Co. Ltd.

China Telecom has announced plans to increase the CDMA network's subscriber base from 42 million to 100 million over the next two to three years. The company aims to gain a 15 percent share of China's mobile service market and to make its CDMA business profitable in three years.

09/16 19:18
Tagged as: ChinaTelecom CDMA



start a free trial now

Latest Interview

Lenovo to expand Russian operations in 2010 - Lenovo Russia GM

The Beijing Olympics provided Lenovo with a marketing narrative to introduce its products to Russia, and now Lenovo Russia's GM, Bai Yuli, aims to increase the computer maker's market share in Russia's dynamic urban markets. Bai discusses the company's convergence strategy for 2010 with Interfax.

More Interviews »

Latest Feature

Alibaba prepares for expansion through consolidation

Alibaba Group is consolidating its businesses to become a comprehensive solutions provider.

More Features »

Home  |  News  |  Company Profiles  |  Industry Analysis |  Events  |  Partners  |  About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Site Map