China Unicom has launched its high speed Internet access service in Shanghai, aiming to increase its market share against rival China Mobile.
The new CDMA 1X technology, an upgraded version of the code division multiple access, or CDMA, provides up to 153 kilobits/second of Internet connection, double that of a dial-up modem.
The new technology allows mobile users to exchange photos and download software from the Internet.
Last year, China Unicom attracted 7 million CDMA users. It hopes to reach 20 million subscribers by the end of this year.
Unicom hopes the development of the CDMA network will boost its market share and bring it closer to China Mobile, whose GSM network hosts about 70 percent of the country's mobile users.
Experts say CDMA has less radiation, better voice quality and more security features than GSM.
(Cri.com.cn January 30, 2003)
