This fixed NGN programme will cover many first-class provincial Domestic Centres (DC1) across China. The improvement in network capability will also cover several second-class Domestic Centres (DC2) to further improve transmission performance, ensuring seamless data transmission through Operation and Maintenance Management.

"Once the construction of the whole fixed-NGN network is completed, the successful access rate of long-distance network services will be largely increased. This will therefore ensure great revenue of long-distance voice traffic. Meanwhile we aim to provide users with more efficient and dynamic value-added telecommunication services," said Mr. Li Ming, Director of International Marketing at ZTE's Network Business Department.

"Our strong R&D capability, backed by our quality people worldwide, has given us the experience few of our competitors can match in NGN and Softswitch development and delivery," added Mr. Hou Weigui, Chairman of ZTE Corporation.

"We are extremely proud to have been chosen to put this expertise into serving the communications needs of millions of our fellow citizens and to be working together with our colleagues in China Telecom to provide a network that will be the envy of the entire world."

Widely regarded as the top brand in China for NGN capability, ZTE Corporation has already succeeded with this technology in overseas markets. Having deployed NGN commercial programmes in many provinces for China Telecom, China Unicom, China Mobile, China Netcom and China Railcom, ZTE Corporation has also won contracts in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Pakistan.

About ZTE Corporation

ZTE Corporation is China's largest listed telecommunications equipment provider specializing in offering customized network solutions for telecom carriers worldwide. The company develops and manufactures telecommunications equipment for fixed, mobile, data and optical networks, intelligent networks and next generation networks as well as mobile phones. www.zte.com.cn