China Mobile To Offer 4G LTE Network From Next Month, iPhones To Follow?
by Joe White
November 26, 2013
It's official: China Mobile is set to offer its commercial TD-LTE network from Dec. 18, in a move that could see China's largest carrier offer Apple's new iPhones in early 2014.
The launch of China Mobile's 4G network has been a long time coming, and its launch feels somewhat overdue. Just last month, an online advertisement indicated that the carrier's TD-LTE service would launch between Nov. 9-11; back in September, China Mobile iPhone posters also appeared online, indicating that the carrier would be offering Apple's handsets in the near future.
Now, however, the news of China Mobile's super fast cellular network has been confirmed by Xinhuanet: "China will start commercial 4G mobile communications services on December 18, bringing the most advanced telecommunications technology to the country’s more than 1 billion mobile users," the country's official press agency explained in a recent article.
The report continues:
China Mobile, the country’s No. 1 mobile operator with over 700 million users, will start 4G services on that date with a new brand He, meaning harmonious in the Chinese language. China is expected to issue licences for 4G before the telco’s new services start.China Mobile's service will first be available in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chongqing. Of course, this is positive news for Apple. Already, the Cupertino, Calif. company has licensed its new iPhones with China Mobile's wireless standard, and both the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c are indeed known to be compatible with the TD-LTE band. More than 760 million subscribers use the carrier, and as such a China Mobile iPhone would be a great move for Apple to make. In the country, Apple's share of the huge smartphone market isn't strong, with more users enjoying less expensive Android-powered handsets. This could change, however, come December and beyond. We'll keep you updated with further information as we receive it. In the meantime, see: BillGuard 4.0 Features Spend Analytics, Streamlined Inbox And Smart Savings, Rovio Goes Full Blast With Explosive Content Update To Original Angry Birds Game, and Nokia's New Lumia 2520 Ad Challenges The iPad Over Its Lack Of A Keyboard.