TD-SCDMA to GSM handover successful

Chinese TD-SCDMA developer, T3G Technology, said Wednesday that it has completed the world’s first voice automatic handover of multi-mode TD-SCDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE in a handset.

The news marks yet another milestone in the maturity of the Chinese homegrown 3G technology, and will likely fuel more speculation on the licensing of 3G spectrum in the country.

The development means that users can experience seamless bi-directional and on the fly automatic handover between TD-SCDMA and GSM networks.

Multi-mode 3G devices will be able to automatically scan for available networks and smoothly switch between TD-SCDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks.

The automatic handover feature has been validated in multiple network environments built by all major Chinese infrastructure vendors including Datang Mobile, ZTE and TD-Tech.

According to T3G, which is a joint venture between NXP Semiconductors, Datang Mobile, Samsung Electronics and Motorola, TD-SCDMA networks are being rolled out in 10 Chinese cities including 6 host cities of Beijing Olympics by China Mobile and other Chinese operators.

Daijun Zhang, CTO of T3G said, “With the realisation of TD-SCDMA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE automatic handover feature thus ensuring great backward compatibility with 2.5G networks, the most challenging technological hurdle facing the TD-SCDMA handsets at the initial commercial stage has been cleared.

“The addition of the TD-SCDMA/GSM/GPRS/EDGE automatic handover feature to the T3G reference design platform will give our handset maker customers an advantage in creating a rich variety of competitive TD-SCDMA mobile handsets that meet the demands of the China market.”