According to the domestic media, China Unicom is intending to open as many as 3,000 Internet cafes by the end of 2004.

As a part of government plans to tighten controls over the Internet by giving just a few companies access to operate cafes, China Unicom will open 150 to 200 Internet cafes and operate another 2,500 to 2,800 by franchise, Unicom vice president Li Zhengmao is reported to have said.

Unicom, which already has 400 Internet cafes throughout China, also signed a strategic agreement with online games operator Shanda Interactive Entertainment to provide Shanda's games in the cafes.