China Telecom's iPhone 5 Supports WCDMA/GSM Global Roaming
Sina Tech, 11/05/12
On November 5, a China Telecom (NYSE: CHA; 0728.HK) employee responded to recent rumors that the China Telecom edition of the iPhone 5 would not be usable for overseas roaming. The employee said that the China Telecom iPhone 5 would support GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000 global roaming, with machine-card separation enabling chip-based support for both WCDMA and CDMA2000 networks. Within mainland China, subscribers will only be able to use CDMA2000 EV-DO networks, but WCDMA/GSM connectivity will be supported for international roaming - including Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan roaming - provided that subscribers activate international roaming services with China Telecom prior to their departure and use the operator's "E-Surfing International card."
The Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's (MIIT) Radio Administration Bureau website had listed the China Telecom iPhone 5 as a "CDMA2000/WLAN (WAPI)/Bluetooth mobile telephone," whereas the China Telecom iPhone 4S is listed as a "GSM/WCDMA/CDMA2000/WLAN (WAPI)/Bluetooth mobile telephone." As a result, recent industry rumors have stated that the China Telecom edition of the iPhone 5 will lack GSM/WCDMA connectivity, rendering it incapable of international roaming.
Keywords: China Telecom iPhone wireless MIIT Radio Administration Bureau GSM international roaming WCDMA 0728.HK CHA CDMA2000 EV-DO smartphone 3G handset
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