Chapter 10 - Other Electronics Industries

Abstract

This chapter highlights eight specific electronics application industries in China: televisions, DVDs, cellular phones, automotive electronics, avionics, medical electronics, military electronics, and space electronics. On 17 March 1958, China Television and Radio Center succeeded in broadcasting TV programs for the first time on a trial basis in Beijing. The Beijing-brand 35-cm electronic-tube black-and-white TV set, called “Huaxia,” or “China's First Screen,” was developed by the Tianjin Radio Factory, later renamed the Tianjin Telecommunication Broadcasting Company. At present, the TV industry market is dominated by major domestic companies: Changhong, Konka, TCL, Chuangwei, Kangjia, Haixin, Xiahua, Panda, and Haier. The Chinese State Science and Technology Commission have included HDTV as a major development project. The present cable network in major cities in China is only capable of transmitting 40 to 50 channels simultaneously, whereas digital TV offers 400 to 500 channels. DVD-Video made its foray into China in 1997 with the importation of approximately10, 000 DVD-Video players. China began producing its own DVD players in 1998; at that time, 35 manufacturers produced DVD players. Chinese cellular phone networks began in 1987 when the first 900 MHz analog cellular phone system was installed in Guangzhou. The automobile industry may become another leading industry in China. The reason is, there are over 40 million Chinese with current driving licenses, and this will continue to grow dramatically.