A meeting, set for next month, will decide which standards China will implement in its 3G strategy, state-run media reports.

The Mobile Multimedia Technology Alliance (MMTA) will meet in the southern Chinese city of Guilin on August 10 and 11 to debate standards for the next generation technology. According to the reports, the meeting could be a sign that Chinese officials are readying themselves to issue the much sought after 3G licences.

Speculation on the timing suggests the meeting may be an attempt to speed up the process which is vital to the country’s Olympics.

Four of the country’s leading telcos are members of the MMTA and include China Telecommunications, China Network Communications Group (China Netcom), China Mobile Communications (China Mobile), and China United Telecommunications (China Unicom).

The country’s regulator, the Ministry of Information Industry (MII) has never released any details on its proposition for the licences except to rule that foreign carriers cannot bid.