TD-LTE may be forced

China's homegrown 4G TD-LTE technology is likely to be named by the government as the only choice for the country's three telecom carriers, which have been preparing for China to enter the 4G era.

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the country's industry watchdog, has made clear in its draft plan for issuing 4G network licenses that all the nation's three telecom operators have to opt for TD-LTE as their 4G technology choice, the Nandu Daily reported, citing unnamed sources with knowledge of the matter.

China Mobile has been a firm supporter of TD-LTE, but its two smaller rivals, China Unicom and China Telecom, have shown to be supportive of FDD-LTE - the other 4G alternative.

MIIT has yet to respond to the rumor.