Building On Urban Informatization

China Telecom commits itself to the development of urban information technology and hopes to contribute to the development of Shanghai.

This year hosts the 145th “World Telecommunication and Information Society Day” (World Telecom Day). In the annual sessions of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 2009, the directors of the ITU established the theme of the 2010 World Telecom Day – “Better City, Better Life with Information and Communication Technologies”, which is aligned with the Shanghai World Expo’s theme “Better City, Better Life”.

The main objective of this year’s World Telecom Day is to show how the information and communication technologies (ICTs) make cities – which host more than half of the global population – more environment-friendly, more prosperous, more inclusive and more orderly. China Telecom Shanghai Branch is the most dedicated contributor to this objective.

Shouldering the mission of building e-city

In June 1996, the United Nations Human Rights Council published the “Istanbul Declaration”, stressing that “Our cities must be places where human beings lead fulfilling lives in dignity, good health, safety, happiness and hope”. In today’s China, the urbanization provides strong development impetus. Meanwhile, urbanization brings about a series of challenges in transportation, environment protection, energy water supply, public health and public health.

“We are the constructors of the infrastructures of the urban communication and we want to be the promoter of urban ICTs development. We can be the connection between urban management department and information users. We can also agglomerate our peers within the industry chain to develop the urban information technology,” from China Telecom Shanghai Branch about its role in the urban development. The company is compiling a symphony tuned with innovation and combination, for the first time exhibiting the world with intelligent life with numerous possibilities.

China Telecom Shanghai Branch invested 4 billion yuan (USD 585.7 million) early in 2007 in making out 20 measures, which provided a series of facilities and solutions to the urban ICTs development. In 2008, China Telecom Shanghai Branch finished 20 major ICT facilitation projects and 150 sub-level ICT projects in 6 fields. It contributed to the growth of Shanghai economy with high-quality information services.

On April 28, 2009, China Telecom signed an agreement with Shanghai municipal government to further accelerate the construction of “China Telecom’s Information Park”, its NOC in South China and the building Shanghai an AP ICT Hub. Various projects have been launched: the “Metro Optic Network” (MONET) program with the total investment of 6 billion yuan (USD 878.6 million) is bringing Shanghai with brand new broadband services; the continuous optimization of metropolitan area network increases Shanghai’s broadband output to 1.5 Tb; the 4-billion-yuan “Wireless City” project and the promotion of 3G and WiFi technology are contributing to the construction of high-speed wireless network.

Expo interprets the theme of World Telecom Day

Notable is the fact that China Telecom, as the main global CDN and broadband service supplier for the Shanghai World Expo, commits itself to the construction of network for the Expo to satisfy different demands of organizers, exhibitors, media and visitors(including the remote online visitors). It also provides a series of green, low-carbon, energy-saving and emission-reduction information services and products, which are the prefect interpretation of the World Telecom Day’s theme.

According to Mr. Zhang Weihua, general manager of China Telecom Shanghai Branch, in order to interpret the theme of “Better City, Better Life with ICTs”, China Telecom Shanghai Branch is trying to showcase a feast. The “MONET”, top mobile broadband, next-generation Internet, Smart City, 3D HD IPTV, cloud computing handset, e-Surfing Qchat and intelligent multi-language identification system, as well as 18 new businesses, create a full-service, every-aspect and all-day information network for the Expo.

These highlights not only bring the Expo with the latest information technology in the 21st century, but also closely catch the trend of global ICT industry. The green, eco-friendly and low-carbon development philosophy is fully reflected during the Expo. Moreover, the development pattern will be consummated so that it can benefit very citizen after the Expo and finally function as a catalyst for China’s economic and social development.

To deal with the diversified demands during the Expo, China Telecom optimizes its differentiated and individualized service for different kinds of customers, realizing China Telecom’s commitment for “the best customer services”.

With the 5,000-square-meter ICT Pavilion, “3G e-Surfing Experience Vehicle”, e-Surfing Experience Store, “One-day Visit of China Telecom” and 0.6 million person-time information training courses for the rural area, China Telecom Shanghai Branch provides every-aspect information services for the citizens to adapt, understand and join the life of a “Smart City”.

Mr. Zhang Weihua said that China Telecom Shanghai is fulfilling its corporate social responsibility by serving the society, promoting informatization and boosting economic and social development. This tallies with the World Telecom Day’s theme – “Better City, Better Life with ICTs”. This concept will be continued after the Expo, enabling the ordinary people to enjoy the fruits of information technology.

Experts believe that: with complete information infrastructure, powerful data processing capability and globally leading comprehensive ICT services, China Telecom can establish its tailor-made ICT solution for the Expo a showcase of information services in the post-Expo era.

In the future, China Telecom will continue to focus on the issues of urban management living and convergence under globalization. And will work hard for the development of e-government, digital city, safe & smart City, etc. committing itself to building Shanghai into a dynamic “e-city”.