April 2004 updates

CERNET2, new technologies, labs, and statistics
By Huixin Ke in Beijing, China. April 2004.

CERNET2

The China Education and Research Net 2 (CERNET2), a backbone network based on IPv6, the next-generation Internet protocol, began trial operations on 19 March 2004. More than 200 universities, including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University are among the first users of the network. CERNET2 will be faster, larger, and safer for grid computing, networking of academic institutions, telemedicine and monitoring earthquake and environmental changes. The project is one of China's most important ongoing research into Internet applications. More at: http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/20/content_1375516.htm

CDMA talkback function

China's domestic cell-phone manufacturer ZTE corporation issued the first digital group talkback system based on CDMA technology in the world on 22 March. The launch may break the monopoly of foreign products in China's communication technology market. It also provides China's CDMA subscribers with a potential to use the "talkback" function using Chinese owned technologies. More at http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/22/content_1377442.htm

HP and Microsoft labs

The Ministry of Information Industry signed cooperation memoranda with HP and Microsoft on 11 and 15 March respectively to jointly build laboratories for China's software and integrated circuit industries. HP's efforts will focus on Linux while Microsoft will explore local applications and solutions using the Windows platforms. More at http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/16/content_1367857.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/12/content_1361284.htm

Recently released Chinese Internet statistics

China's digital subscriber lines (DSL) users have grown four times since 2002 to 19.15 million by the end of 2003. This number exceeds Japan's figures and ranks first place in the world. More at http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/16/content_1368834.htm Sales for China's electronics and information industries have increased to RMB1.88 trillion at 2003, including a profit of RMB100 billion. The scale the industry may be ranked second in the world. More at http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/20/content_1375672.htm http://news.xinhuanet.com/it/2004-03/18/content_1371777.htm