China Mobile has announced it has secured an FDD LTE operating license from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).
China Mobile was a lead developer and the main champion of the TD-LTE 4G standard, and has deployed the world's largest TD-LTE network. Now the operator plans to devote its full efforts towards building and operating FDD LTE to enhance the quality of high-speed mobile services, particularly in rural areas.
The network will also support China Mobile's efforts to develop mobile IoT and industrial internet services on a nationwide basis and scale up deployments of a TDD-FDD convergence network.
“At the same time, the company will strengthen its product and business innovation, provide its customers with better and more convenient services, and further enhance customer perceptions,” China Mobile said in a statement [PDF].
“The company believes that the aforesaid operating permit will be conducive to the Company’s in-depth implementation of the 'big connectivity' strategy... and will provide greater support and safeguards for building a world first-tier enterprise with global competitiveness and becoming a world’s leading operator in digital innovation.”
China Mobile's existing TDD network spans more than 1.5 million base stations with a coverage area of more than 1.3 billion people.