A growing number of Chinese telecom and computer companies support a local encryption standard for wireless Internet that challenges US technology in the field, an AFP report said.
The AFP report, quoting state-run Xinhua News, also said WAPI encryption standard, a Chinese-made rival of the US-backed 802.11 standard, has received the endorsement of companies such as ,obile operator China Mobile and PC vendor Lenovo.
'A complete WAPI industry chain is already taking shape and it is set to prevail in China,' said Jiang Shiping, chairman of the WAPI alliance, an industry group pushing the standard.
Encryption software transforms messages into virtually unbreakable code in order to make sure the information does not wind up in the wrong hands, the AFP report said.
China has been pushing hard for its own standards in a range of product categories including third-generation mobile phones, digital TV and home networking in a bid to leverage domestic firms and reduce reliance on foreign technologies, it added.