China Launches 4G

On Sunday a group of 10 "leading domestic institutions" better known as the "FuTURE Project" rolled out the world's first 4G network in Shanghai. What makes this even more interesting is that they have still been working on getting their 3G network up and running on mainland China. I guess they decided that 4G was way cooler than 3G, so there's no sense in wasting anymore time on it.

The rollout of the 4G network has cost approximately 150 million yuan, or $19.3 million USD. This fourth-generation standard will allow data transmission at up to 100 megabytes per second, which is already several times faster than current technology.

China is planning on holding field tests for the new 4G network, and will put it into trial commercial use up until 2010. Meanwhile, those of us in the rest of the world will have to sit back in envy, waiting until the day 4G finally makes its way to us.

China aims to hold field tests for the 4G system -- whose rollout has cost 150 million yuan ($19.3 million) and will allow data transmission at up to 100 megabutes per second, several times faster than current technology -- and put it into trial commercial use up until 2010, the paper added.

China hasn't completely forgotten about the 3G network; they're still working on that as even the 4G won't be available to everyone for several years. They're expected to get the 3G licenses later this year.