Wuhan Wireless City Plan Approved: 3G Full Coverage within 2 Years
In 2013, in Wuhan, whether in urban or rural areas, people will be able to access the Internet anytime, anywhere by simply turning on a computer. Yesterday, the Wuhan Municipal Government Executive Meeting approved in principle the Implementation Plan for Building Wuhan as a Wireless City, proposing to realize this vision within two years.
The plan paints a clear blueprint for building "Wireless Wuhan": in the next two years, 3G networks will cover all urban areas, suburbs, townships, high-speed railways, and expressways in Wuhan. The Metro Line 2, expected to open to traffic by the end of next year, will also provide wireless Internet access.
The specific timeline is as follows: In 2012, the central urban area will achieve full 3G coverage, with wireless network access speeds of at least 3 Mbps, enabling users to connect to the wireless network anytime, anywhere. At transportation hubs, 20 top-tier (Class 3A) hospitals, 500 star-rated hotels, 480 commercial centers, and 1,000 financial and public service outlets in the central urban area, 3G+WLAN wireless networks will be deployed, with speeds exceeding 11 Mbps in hotspot areas. Meanwhile, at government service centers and Party and government offices in the central urban area, citizens will be able to access government and public service information for free at high speeds.
In 2013, 3G network coverage will be extended to the outer urban areas of Wuhan, as well as provincial and national highways. Economy hotels, catering establishments, leisure and entertainment venues, and museums across the city will achieve deep wireless network coverage. The completion of "Wireless Wuhan" will bring greater convenience to citizens' daily lives. The plan proposes to launch the "Wireless Wuhan" portal next year, offering services such as business processing, online reservations, and online shopping through more than 20 channels covering transportation, healthcare, employment, and shopping.
In addition, through the wireless network, citizens can enjoy services such as restaurant reservations, food delivery ordering, real-time traffic viewing, and self-service bicycle rental. With a "Wuhan Tong" card, they can also make small payments for movie tickets, taxi fares, and utility bills.
It is reported that to date, more than 1,500 cities worldwide have started or planned to build wireless broadband networks to meet the needs of public safety and public services. In Hubei Province, cities such as Yichang and Xiangyang are also accelerating the construction of wireless cities.
— Source: Chutian Metropolitan Daily