Shanghai Telecom to Offer Free Broadband Upgrades
Netease Tech, 12/30/10
Shanghai Telecom today announced upgrade plans for its broadband network in 2011 in a push to promote high-speed services such as IPTV. Beginning January 1, Shanghai Telecom broadband subscribers can apply for free upgrades to speeds up to 20 Mbps. Shanghai Telecom will also open public Wi-Fi hotspots free to its users next year.
Shanghai Telecom announced an "Optical City" plan in 2009 to replace copper lines with fiber optics. To date, Shanghai Telecom's fiber optic network covers 1.5 mln users. Starting January 1, users in residential areas already converted to FTTx can apply for the free broadband upgrade. Users currently enjoying 512 Kbps speeds can upgrade to at least 2 Mbps and as high as 3 Mbps free of charge, and add up to 10 Mbps at additional cost for a maximum speed of 13 Mbps. Existing users with 2 Mbps connections can upgrade to at least 4 Mbps and as high as 10 Mbps for free, and have the option to add up to 10 Mbps at additional cost for a maximum speed of 20 Mbps.
For new subscribers, those not residing in areas where fiber optic conversion has been completed can lease a 1 Mbps line for RMB 140 a month and 2 Mbps for RMB 150 per month. New users in converted residential areas must sign up for Shanghai Telecom's fiber optic broadband package priced between RMB 180 to RMB 218 per month.
Shanghai Telecom aims to convert 1 mln users to FTTH broadband as well as bring the average speed for Shanghai Telecom broadband subscribers to 8 Mbps in 2011 through the promotion. The operator has set a 2013 target of converting all Shanghai Telecom residential broadband users to FTTH and raising the average speed to 32 Mbps.
Keywords: IPTV broadband conversion telecom upgrade fiber optics FTTx broadband subscribers FTTH China Telecom marketing 0728.HK CHA
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