China is now paying close attention to the development of third generation (3G) mobile telecommunications technology and marking out its frequency market to prepare for the real utilization of 3G technology, according to an official from the State Development Planning Commission.

On a forum on the technological development of 3G telecommunications held here Sunday, Shi Fenghai, an official in charge of the hi-tech industry from the commission, said the real commercialized utilization of 3G technology will depend on the market situation. According to plan, China will utilize 3G technology in the tenth five-year plan period (2001-2005).

The 3G mobile telecommunications are characterized by transferring data as well as voices.

The forum was jointly sponsored by the China Mobile Telecommunications Association, Beijing Wiscom Technologies Inc. and the magazine "Investment and Cooperation".

China now has more than 100 million mobile phone users and is the largest potential market for mobile telecommunications.