Users of Shanghai Telecom's fiber optic internet were surprised last week when they found their internet speeds had been upgraded overnight from 2Mb and 4Mb, to 10Mb, 20Mb and even 30Mb! Though the upgrade is free, some entrepreneurial conmen (and women) cashed in on the opportunity by showing up on people's doorsteps asking for "upgrade fees" from unsuspecting residents! more ›

We're happy to see some people with initiative out there! Instead of repeatedly banging head against desk and bemoaning the fact that Shanghai has the slowest internet in China, Toby Simkin went out and found another provider! Big ups to him for doing speed tests when he made the switch from Shanghai Telecom to Oriental Cable Network (OCN.com.cn), which is operated by China Unicom. The numbers speak volumes, and apparently Shanghai Telecom is actually charging you 30% more for shittier internet! (Update: Reader comments have noted that this test is flawed for various reasons and may not be as sweet a deal as it seems. Check them out below.) more ›

One of the points brought up at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (Shanghai Edition) was that, in order to become a "smart city," Shanghai ought to have cheaper broadband. Citing figures from Japan and South Korea, various professors from around town argued that Shanghai's current network was slow and expensive. 2008 figures pegged China's average internet speed at around 1.8Mbps for 46.6RMB a month - based on "average monthly incomes in each country," that's 18 times the price paid in South Korea (for 40Mbps average) and 51.5 times that of Japan (for 63Mbps average). Granted, that's some very weird math being done there - average incomes in Japan/South Korea and China are hardly comparable - but if it leads to faster, cheaper internet, I don't care what numbers are brought up! more ›

Last October, Shanghai Daily announced plans for a city-wide wireless broadband network: more ›

Everyone knows about the Great Firewall in China. After a few months here in PRC, people just learn to live with it or find ways around it. In recent days, we have found our internet mobility further limited by yet another layer of unwanted security, one that is perhaps more local in nature. more ›

Shanghaiist isn't quite sure how this will affect us, but we are pretty sure that our American readers should go throw eggs at the corporate offices of Narus and Verso ... now. more ›

Shanghaiist recently heard that Shanghai Telecom was introducing a new "all you can listen" package, where by paying 6 yuan a month you no longer pay for any incoming calls coming from Shanghai, no matter what kind of phone it is -- which means mobile phones, land lines, and the "Personal Handy Phone System (小灵通)" phones. Well, it turns out that in response to this, Shanghai Mobile has come out with a basically identical package. The Chinese article we read is here. It seems you can sign up just about anywhere. Has anyone out there tried it?




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