China's operators continue to spend on infrastructure

China is expected to resist the downturn in the global wireless infrastructure equipment business this year­ as 3G network construction is driving double-digit growth in capital spending among that country's operators, according to research firm iSuppli.

The firm predicts wireless infrastructure spending will increase to $6.2 billion this year, up 13.2 percent from $5.5 billion in 2008. Meanwhile, global operator spending on wireless infrastructure equipment in 2009 will fall by 3.5 percent to $39.7 billion, down from $41.1 billion in 2008.

"China's wireless operators in 2009 are set (to) make multi-billion dollar infrastructure capital expenditures to support their roll outs of 3G networks," said Jagdish Rebello Ph.D., director and principal analyst, wireless communications, with iSuppli. "These companies are moving aggressively on their 3G rollouts in order to they try to capture market share in the potentially lucrative domestic market for mobile-data services."

For more:
- see Cellular-News [1]

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