China Telecom, the largest telecom company in China, plans to carry out a whole-network on- line test for Y2K glitches from 10 p.m. November 27 to 1 a.m. November 28.

It's the first time China has tried this sort of on-line troubleshooting.

The telephone network, transmission network, data telecommunication network and business operation system will be tested, said the official.

Though the testing will cover the entire telecom network, the official promised that the testing will not hinder regular telecom business, noting not all of the equipment will be tested and should emergencies arise, back-up equipment will guarantee the regular operation of telecommunication business.

China Telecom also invited some key data users, consumers using special networks, ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and foreign telecom operators to join the testing, noted the official.

China Telecom has paid close attention to the Y2K problem and set up a special task force for the situation in 1998. It launched a large-scale check on the whole network in April, 1998, and system upgrading and modifications were done afterwards.

By the end of this June, the equipment modification on the whole network had been basically completed, said the official. (Xinhua)