Areas in red in this photo are covered by wireless network in the first phase of the "wireless Beijing" program. [Photo: 163.com]

There is only one day to go before the opening of the Olympic Games. Here in the capital, new facilities are complete and ready to go. Just about one month ago, Beijing started a trial operation of a wireless network program called "Wicity Beijing", enabling people to get free access to the internet through the wireless network in main business centers in the city. So currently how is the program going on? Let's follow our reporter to take a closer look.

Reporter:

The signal of the trial network covers over 100 square kilometers of five urban areas in the city, including the CBD area, the Financial Street, Zhongguancun Hi-Tech Zone, Wangfujing Street, the Yizhuang region as well as areas along the second and third ring road. Nearly 1,000 access points including 800 Wi-Fi locations and 100 WiMAX stations have been installed at public facilities, streets and traffic trunk lines. Via the access points, people with laptops, PDAs, or Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones can go online, outdoors. The service will be offered free of charge during the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics Games.

The project's service provider, CECT-Chinacomm Communications, adopted the Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) technology, a supplement to the 3G (third-generation) network, to provide the wireless access. The project is still in its early stages. The chief scientist of the CECT-Chinacomm Communications, Xie Linzhen, said the company has introduced safety measures in the process of registration as per BOCOG requirements.

"We have adopted a real-name system since July 24. Netizens are required to register with his or her identity card at five locations designated by our company. After we confirm their information, we will give them the passwords. GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) users can use their cell phones to verify their identities. Foreigners can use their passports and visa cards to register. Currently, the number of registered users has reached nearly 6,000."

Since the project was launched on June 25, the total number of people surfing on the wireless network can reach 15,000 during peak time. However, signal stability and network speed varies in different areas. Xie Linzhen explains why.

"Reduction or cutback in electric power is one of the main reasons for failed or unstable signal coverage in some areas. Right now, we have only just built a framework for the wireless network in the city. Also, for now, technology doesn't provide access to users traveling in high-speed vehicles. Our current target customers are foreign visitors who might need to use the internet for emergency purposes. We will try our best to use technology to improve the situation after the Olympics."

He added that the number of users using the network at a time influences the speed of the connection. Under ordinary conditions, the speed will be no less than 20M bps within a sparsely distributed Wimax station, which usually covers 3 square kilometers.

Now the project is in its first phase. The second phase of the program is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009, when the wireless network will extended to urban Beijing within the fifth-ring road. The company will build 9,000 WI-FI stations (half of them are indoors access points) and 150 WiMAX stations, providing Wi-Fi services to more than 90 percent of the streets in Beijing.

The final phase will be finished by the end of 2010 with the creation of a citywide wireless network, covering both urban and suburban areas of Beijing.

After the Olympics, the network will cost 0.12 yuan per minute to use. Currently, the company is researching into several prepayment methods: 20 yuan for one day, 60 yuan for five days and 80 yuan for one month. None of these has a limit on downloads and the prepaid service hours must be used within one month. Xie also expressed that the charge might eventually be lower than the above standard.

Xie Linzhen is confident that the project will become more popular and effective along with Beijing netizens' increasing enthusiasm and demand as well as the government's support in network supervision service. He believes Beijing's Internet users will enjoy faster, easier access to the cyber world when the program is in full swing.

Founded in 2003, CECT-Chinacomm Communications has more than 43,450 kilometers of network and over 3,057 km of local area networks established in major cities across the country. Now the company is working to establish itself as the largest wireless broadband telecom operator in China.

(Reporter and Page Editor: Han Yueling)