Cai Quangen, general manager of China Unicom's (NYSE: CHU; 0762.HK; 600050.SH) Shanghai branch, stated in a recent interview that the operator has begin construction of an LTE-FDD trial network in Shanghai. Cai added that Shanghai Unicom has upgraded more than 2,000 WCDMA base stations in core areas of the municipality to HSPA+ since last year, and will upgrade its entire network within three years.

Cai also said that Shanghai Unicom will build an M2M (Internet of Things) application platform and a large-scale industry application platform through partnerships with enterprises offering mature applications.

In September 2011, the Shanghai municipal government released its Three-Year Action Plan for Shanghai "Intelligent City" Construction. Shortly afterward, Shanghai Unicom released its White Paper on Shanghai Unicom Coordination with Shanghai's Intelligent City Construction, in which it committed to adding an additional RMB 12 bln in fixed-asset investments with the aid of China Unicom over a three-year period in order to build out the information infrastructure necessary for the "Intelligent City" plan.