Still no progress on the 3G development

China's two weeks of formal decision making are over and still no word on the licenses for the third generation mobile communication, 3G. Business Weeks goes so far to suggest that what seemed a clear winner, China's own standard TD-SCDMA, is because of the ongoing delays has turned into a sure loser.

So even when TD-SCDMA is finally ready, Chinese telecom operators are unlikely to embrace it. Chances are at least one of the state-owned operators will have no choice but to use it, but as a consolation prize they will also be allowed to operate the more popular and proven global standards.

A lot of political prestige has been connected to this project. While China is doing economically very well, developing its own standards has been high on the agenda, but met with very little success. When the TD-SCDMA is going to be a receipt for disaster, we might see some political consequences too.