And China Mobile has already built WCDMA test networks in most major cities. They are, in fact, fully functional, just waiting for the license to be granted.

All new technologies go through the same hassles before they are mature and stable.

I wouldn't rule out commercial uses either, though China Mobile is unlikely to recklessly sell sensitive information on its high-end customers, given how much effort it expends to keep them happy.

China Unicom's CDMA network needs only a software upgrade to become CDMA2000. It takes a few months to do.

It's safe to assume that the Chinese government will have whatever access it needs to this information to help with investigations.

Very big established companies create a feeding ground for startups. Very few cities in the world have a critical mass of RF designers. San Diego is one of them.