Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) has won a major double-deal in China, securing 2G and 3G contracts with China Mobile and China Unicom worth RMB7.6 billion (EUR880 million). WCDMA operator China Unicom has awarded the European-based infrastructure vendor – the world’s second-largest – a deal for 3G networks in 11 provinces across the country. Meanwhile, China Mobile, the world’s largest mobile operator by subscribers, has awarded NSN an unspecified deal to provide it with “TD-SCDMA and GSM networks.” Both operator deployments will take place this year.

Although the deals represent only a fraction of the reported US$58.5 billion that will be spent by China’s three mobile operators on 3G in the next three years, the move likely cements the European vendor’s place in China’s long-term industry plans. China Mobile is already prepping an eventual move to TD-LTE (the TDD version of LTE technology), and a statement from NSN talks up the vendor’s “pioneering work on the next-generation” standard. Last month, 3G licenses were finally awarded to the country’s three operators, ending years of speculation over China’s 3G fate. An AFP report this week notes that NSN’s deals come within the framework of a US$10 billion package negotiated by a delegation of more than 200 Chinese companies currently visiting Germany.