Alcatel-Lucent to provide IP backbone for China Telecom

Aug. 27, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Alcatel-Lucent Holding Inc, world's leading provider of telecom solutions, Wednesday announced that it has signed a centralized purchasing contract with China Telecom Corp Ltd<0728>, the nation's largest fixed-line operator, to provide and maintain an IP/MPLS backbone across ten provinces in China.

After the backbone is completed in October 2009, China Telecom will be able to deliver advanced, high-quality broadband services.

The contract, which is part of a US$700-million framework agreement recently signed by the two companies, was awarded to Alcatel-Lucent's Chinese flagship company, Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell, according to the statement.

The cooperation strengthens Alcatel-Lucent's leading position in the Chinese IP market and is a further recognition of its ability to assist global operators in their transition to all-IP networks, said Olivia Qiu, president of Alcatel-Lucent in East Asia and Alcatel-Lucent Shanghai Bell.

Alcatel-Lucent has provided products and services in its IP/MPLS portfolio to more than 270 telecom carriers in more than 100 countries around the world.