Date: 3/12/2008 1:02:22 AM

China’s leading telephone operator, China Telecom, is accelerating the deployment of public WiFi networks, and plans to launch a new round in the bidding process to acquire wireless networking equipment in 21 Chinese provinces, according to a recent report by Shanghai Securities News.

The telecom giant’s interest in WiFi, which sets the stage for dualmode cell phones and wireless VoIP, indicates that it may be poised to abandon Personal Handyphone System (PHS)based services, according to industry insiders.

China’s telecom industry is currently undergoing a reshuffle, in which statecontrolled wireless carrier, China Unicom’s CDMA cell phone network will likely be transferred to the landline incumbent, which is also state owned. This will allow China Telecom to smoothly transfer its PHS users onto CDMAbased cellular networks, experts predict.

Source: http://www.teleclick.ca/2008/03/chinatelecomstepsuppublicwifideployments/