Statistics Bureau: 86% of Trial Users Give TD-SCDMA Failing Grade
DIGITIMES, 11/19/08
The National Bureau of Statistics of China (NBSC) recently released statistics based on random surveys of 3,000 TD-SCDMA users in 8 TD-SCDMA trial cities, showing that among user feedback on TD-SCDMA handsets, networks, services, and wireless data cards, feedback on TD-SCDMA networks was the worst, with a majority of users expressing their dissatisfaction with their trials. Given current handset, network, and service experience, 86% of users surveyed stated clearly that they would be unwilling to purchase TD-SCDMA handsets in order to use TD-SCDMA services. Since TD-SCDMA trials began, only 20% of users have used videophone calls, and overall data service ARPU is fairly low.
A source familiar with the situation revealed that since the beginning of trials, 12% of users have returned their handsets for repair, with the figure even above 20% for users of certain handset models. By comparison, less than 2% of GSM users return their handsets. Handset complaints account for 52% of all TD-SCDMA-related complaints.
The average price for TD-SCDMA trial handsets is approximately RMB 2,000; users said that an average price of RMB 1,190 would be most acceptable.
Editor's Note: 20,000 users participated in the initial round of commercial TD-SCDMA trials. For more background on this topic, please see "20,000 Users to Trial TD-SCDMA 3G Services in October", MD 9/22/06 issue.
Keywords: user experience 3G ARPU National Bureau of Statistics of China TD-SCDMA wireless complaint data card mobile phone pricing
Sending
