Net free and wireless during Olympic Games

The Beijing Olympic Games will have a wireless network program in place, enabling residents and visitors to access the Internet.

New Delhi, July 4 : The Beijing Olympic Games will have a wireless network program in place, enabling residents and visitors to access the Internet.

Coverage will be spread over a distance of 100 square kilometers, including the areas inside the Third Ring roads, the CBD trade circle, Financial Street, Zhongguancun, the Wangjing economic and technological development zone, Chunshu in Xuanwu district and Yizhuang, The China Daily said.

CECT-Chinacomm Communications, the program's service provider, said the program adopted the WIMAX+MESHWIFI technology, an important supplement to third-generation (3G) network. Through wireless access points, people with laptops, PDAs, or Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones can go online outdoors.

The network, which will be free of charge during this summer's Olympic Games, will cost users 0.12 yuan per minute after the Games. People will then be able to choose three other prepayment methods, 20 yuan for one day, 60 yuan for five days and 80 yuan for one month. All deals will offer unlimited traffic.

The wireless network currently provided by China Mobile nationwide offers three payment methods - 30 yuan for 15 hours, 50 yuan for 40 hours, 100 yuan for 200 hours and 0.05 yuan for each extra minute. These prepaid service hours are effective in all cities in China and must be used within a month.

The second phase of the program will be completed by the end of 2009, when the wireless network will cover urban Beijing within the Fifth Ring road. By the end of 2010, people in all areas of Beijing, including the suburban areas, will enjoy the service.

ANI