A laboratory to explore the commercialization of the TD-SCDMA (time division synchronous code division multiple access) was officially launched yesterday in Beijing by Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd and Nortel Networks.

"It's a milestone for us to accelerate the development of the home-grown 3G (third generation) standard," said Zhou Huang, president of Datang Telecom Technology and Industrial Group, the parent company of Datang Mobile, at a press conference yesterday.

The two sides signed an agreement last month to establish the laboratory.

"The cooperation between us will greatly boost the commercialization of TD-SCDMA," he said.

According to the agreement, both sides will apply their state-of-the-art technologies to conduct systematic tests in the areas of interoperability, network performance and system functions based on TD-SCDMA.

The laboratory is the most advanced in China focusing on the commercialization of TD-SCDMA. Nortel Networks provide key 3G-elated equipment while Datang Mobile offers wireless access equipment.

"We are now advancing into a new stage of integrated testing," said Tang Ru'an, chief executive officer of Datang Mobile.

According to the timetable, after a series of lab tests, tests focusing on the application of TD-SCDMA will be carried out from October to December.

"TD-SCDMA is a very optimized system, " said Robert Mao, president and chief executive officer of Nortel Networks (China).

He believed that the lab will promote acceptance of the standard and enhance Nortel Networks leadership position in providing 3G solutions in China.

Among the three acknowledged 3G standards -- European WCDMA, US CDMA2000 and TD-SCDMA, the home-grown one is regarded as the least matured among the three.

Tang said early this year he expected the TD-SCDMA technology would go into large scale commercial use sometime after the first half of 2004, and hopes TD-SCDMA can eventually win global market shares of up to 10 percent, higher in China.