China Mobile seeks Taiwan handset makers' support

(AP) China Mobile is seeking support from Taiwanese chip and handset makers to back the fourth generation high-speed mobile network co-developed by the state-owned Chinese telecom operator.

China Mobile chief executive Li Yue said late Thursday the 4G TD-LTE network adopted and promoted by the Chinese government will reach 30 percent of the Chinese population by the end of this year.

Li urged Taiwanese makers to produce chips and smartphones using the mobile standard. He is attending a telecom conference in Taipei.

Li says the China Mobile expects to sell up to 100 million low-cost 3G smartphones in 2013, many supplied by Taiwanese makers. He says the 4G market will grow rapidly and reach its prime by 2015.

China Mobile purchased $1.4 billion of telecom equipment from Taiwan last year.