China Telecom Corp<728><CHA> has invited bids for the first round of procurement of CDMA network equipment and terminals for its fixed line telecommunications and broadband services network, according to sources.

According to an industry insider, the CDMA network tender is mainly for core network equipment, but would also include some terminal devices for access network, and optimization and expansion of existing networks. China Telecom is expected to invest RMB 27 billion to RMB 30 billion in CDMA network business this year.

The same source added that CDMA network equipment worth a total of RMB 12 billion to RMB 15 billion is likely to be procured. Investment in base stations is expected to reach around RMB 7 billion, while roughly RMB 6 billion will be spent on business platform construction.

However, China Telecom did not provide any comment on the reports.

Huawei, Nortel, ZTE<000063><763>, Motorola and Alcatel-Lucent are reportedly joining the bidding.

China Telecom acquired CDMA business from China Unicom<600050><762><CHU> for RMB 110 billion earlier this year. It acquired CDMA network assets for RMB 66.2 billion and the CDMA business and customer-base for RMB 43.8 billion.