China Telecom has launched the first commercial trial of 3G services in Shanghai. A total of 1600 terminal stations in the city had been completed as of Sunday.

China Telecom is set to invest 6 billion yuan to complete the 3G network in the city. A third of this will be used to enhance signal coverage and establish a high-speed mobile Internet. There will be 2000 terminal stations in the city by the end of the year. China Telecom's 3G service is based on CDMA technology. The wireless band speed can reach 3.1 megabits per second, 20 times that of the 2G era.

The telecom operator is offering special deals to encourage users to sign up for 3G services from March 16th to the end of the month.

(CCTV March 18, 2009)