Cisco to establish wireless network in Shanghai

Cisco, the leading networking equipment provider, announced it is in talks with the Shanghai municipal government to build a wireless broadband network in the downtown for the World Expo 2010 under the project "mega city" on Sunday.

The mega city, described as wireless connected and green city by its vice president and chief development officer Charles Giancarlo, could support high-definition video transfer and would connect government-authorized networks in areas like traffic control, security monitoring and environmental regulation.

Six cities in China are developing wireless network projects. Among them, Beijing is using Wi-Fi and WiMax technologies to construct a wireless network for Olympics Games held in 2008. Shanghai is testing a wireless network for Formula One races in Jiading District. Cisco prefers to apply WiMax for its wireless networks.

After Cisco's first presence in Beijing in 1994, it has established several branches, representatives and a R&D center in 10 cities. It has invested US$155 million in China for R&D and will continue to increase investment in China, including the expansion of its R&D center in Shanghai.