A 4.5-generation mobile communications technology, which offers consumers 10 times faster connection speed and higher network capacity compared with 4G, is slated to be used commercially in China and Japan next year, Huawei Technologies said yesterday.

The TDD Plus technology, developed by Huawei — China's biggest telecommunications equipment maker — China Mobile and Japan-based Softbank, is an evolution of TD-LTE 4G technology adopted by China Mobile with more than 800 million users.

A total of 300 million, or more than a third, of 4G consumers across the world are using the TD-LTE technology.

Both TDD Plus and another technology LTE-A are migration technologies to 5G technology, which is scheduled to be available around 2020.

"It's a key development and evolution technology after 4G technology and going to become mainstream mobile technology within two or three years," said Wang Tao, president of Huawei's wireless division.

With improved speed and bandwidth of over 1 gigabyte per second, 10 to 20 times faster than current 4G speed, TDD Plus networks allow carriers to expand in auto navigation, communications and smart home system, Wang said.

The technology may be used commercially next year by China Mobile and Softbank, according to industry officials.