China's Guangdong Information Industry Department recently announced a plan to deploy by 2010wireless service networks in the Pearl River Delta, covering the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan, and Foshan, in time for the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, South China Morning Post reported on August 14. Guangzhou, in particular, is expected to be the first city to see the launch of Wi-Fi service. Further details remain undisclosed, though.

Meanwhile, China Telecom recently announced plans to build and upgrade the Wi-Fi networks in 30 Chinese cities - mainly located in the Yangtze River Delta - including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Wuhan. Value of the project is estimated at around 200 million RMB (US$29.1 million; US$1=6.9 RMB), according to Beijing Times. At the same time, Shanghai Telecom will deploy an additional 3,000 hot spots in Shanghai city by year-end 2008.