China Mobile (CHL) has unveiled its TD-SCDMA network development plan for 2009, which says the company will invest CNY58.8 billion to complete network coverage of 238 prefecture-level cities in China.

China Mobile officially launched its 3G commercial services on January 7, 2009, when it gained the 3G license from China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Prior to this, China Mobile started to provide 3G services in 10 Chinese cities during the Beijing Olympic Games and completed network construction in 38 cities in the second phase project. The company plans to start its third phase TD-SCDMA tender soon.

China Mobile says about 60,000 new TD-SCDMA base stations will be constructed in 2009, increasing the total number of TD-SCDMA stations to over 80,000. The new project will cover 238 prefecture-level cities, accounting for over 70% of all Chinese prefecture-level cities.

In the network construction, China Mobile will focus on the merger of the TD-SCDMA network and the 2G network to realize a smooth transition between the two.

By the end of 2008, China Mobile had opened about 20,000 TD-SCDMA base stations and its network could support services currently available in the 2G network as well as special 3G services like video calls and multimedia color ring back tones.