While MediaTek is expected to continue dominating China's 3G chipset market in the first quarter of 2014, the Taiwan-based IC design house may lose 4G chip orders to rivals including Qualcomm, Marvell Technology and Broadcom, according to industry sources.

　　Although MediaTek has delivered its 4G chip, the MT6290, to clients for verification, first-tier China-based handset brands are believed to prefer solutions from international players such as Qualcomm for their first waves of 4G smartphones, said the sources.

　　Fortunately, demand for MediaTek's 3G solutions from China-based handset makers will remain strong in the first quarter of 2014 as these makers have ramped up shipments to other emerging markets, while sales of 3G smartphones in China are also expected to rebound in the quarter, a traditional peak season for domestic sales, the sources added.