The number of wireless Internet hot spots in Shanghai will hit more than 3,600 by the end of this year - triple last year's level - local telecommunications carriers said yesterday.

China Telecom will establish an additional 2,000 Wi-Fi base stations, also called hot spots, this year from an existing 1,000 now, the company's Shanghai branch said yesterday.

Under the "wireless city" initiative, Wi-Fi services will be available in hotels, universities and commercial buildings.

Meanwhile, Shanghai Telecom signed an agreement with Chongming County authorities to build a wireless network to cover the island. Shanghai Telecom has already signed similar agreements with Jiading, Yangpu and Minhang districts.

China Mobile's Shanghai branch also announced recently that it would establish an additional 666 Wi-Fi hot spots at Olympic Games and World Expo sites. At present, it has about 100 to 200 Wi-Fi sites in hotels and airports.

By the end of this year, Shanghai Mobile will build 5 to 10 wireless communities, including some in Changning District.

In addition, Shanghai Mobile plans to set up a total of 3,000 3G base stations to cover the area within the Outer Ring Road, which will also provide wireless broadband services.

"As a modernized city, Shanghai should have a wireless Internet network without the limit of space and time. It will be achieved by multi-networks including mobile, Wi-Fi or WiMax networks," said Zheng Jie, Shanghai Mobile's general manager.

Globally, more than 600 cities are constructing wireless city projects.

As a fixed-line phone operator, China Telecom's wireless Internet services provide users "real broadband" services, with higher speeds than China Mobile's services, according to China Telecom.

Meanwhile, Intel Corp will invest $500 million in Taiwan Province, mainly on WiMax, an advanced version of Wi-Fi. Intel is in negotiations with carriers and the government to be involved in the "wireless city" project, according to Sean Maloney, Intel's executive vice president, in Shanghai yesterday.