i was under the impression that WCDMA deployed during the mobile boom (3G) in all the markets that mattered. CDMA "won" and moved the industry to be more data-focused.

GSM and CDMA are different technologies, but they eventually converged when data/voice/sms all became one in a decade (LTE). but the preference of GSM/HSPA in smaller markets over CDMA2000 has more to do with leapfrogging then-traditional phone networks to data-native networks than some anti-American stance. (IMO)

The mobile revolution wasnt waiting on any country's ambition. if we're talking a country trying to push through standards, arent you thinking of that BRICS member pushing through TD-SCDMA? That didnt go well outside of their borders.