China's phones operating in an 'island': Maran

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran today pointed out that compared to India, China's phone network is operating in an ''island'' which is not technologically compatible with the rest of the world.

To a question from CPI(M)'s Nilotpal Basu in the Rajya Sabha that China has a much higher telephone density and the proliferation rate of phones is greater than India's, Mr Maran said India has ''decided to operate on GSM and CDMA spectrum which is compatible to the rest of the world''.

Whereas, China's technology is unique in the sense that it is compatible to that country only. ''China is operating on another spectrum,'' he said.

India's mobile phone system, he reiterated is compatible with the rest of the world. He added that the addition of phones in the country is taking place at a blistering pace with 5.3 million phones being added in a single month. More than 1.6 lakh phones are being added to the network daily in the country.

UNI RT MSJ HS1244