4G market set to ignite hot competition

"We all want to see TD-LTE becoming a truly global standard, not only a Chinese standard," Chang said.

Borchert at Nokia Siemens Networks expressed a similar view. "For TD-LTE, we need to learn from the experience of 2G and 3G. The 2G GSM network enjoyed a big global eco-system and was also deployed by major operators," he said.

As a result, GSM became a great success. "For TD-LTE, it is very important to learn lessons from the success of GSM, which means we need to create a strong supplier base and a strong global eco-system," Borchert said.

"Nokia Siemens Networks has a very compelling proposition for China Mobile. Based on our strong support, we can help drive TD-LTE to develop global adoption," he added.

China Mobile

China Mobile plans to deploy the world's biggest 4G LTE network in more than 100 Chinese cities this year, covering more than half a billion people, the company's chairman Xi Guohua, said in a keynote speech at the global TD-LTE Initiative summit in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, China Mobile is about to acquire more than 1 million TD-LTE terminals, including smartphones and data cards, in 2013, Xi said.

The company constructed 20,000 TD-LTE base stations and expects to expand the figure tenfold this year.

The number of China Mobile 4G subscribers is forecast to reach 228.8 million in 2017, representing 52 percent of China's 439.9 million total 4G users, according to estimates by IHS iSuppli.

shenjingting@chinadaily.com.cn