Ericsson To Build China Telecom's Next-Gen IP Backbone

MANHASSET, N.Y. — Ericsson has been awarded a contract by China Telecom Corp. Ltd. (China Telecom) to build its next-generation IP backbone network, known as ChinaNet Next Carrying Network (CN2).

According to the contract, Ericsson will provide total solutions for China Telecom's entire national core network of CN2 and the major part of its backbone network in the southern and western parts of China. Ericsson will provide systems integration, supervision and support and training services, and will also provide equipment in partnership with Juniper Networks to China Telecom.The completion of the contract will enable China Telecom to offer a wide range of advanced IP services including Virtual Private Networking (VPN), high-quality IP voice and video streaming. In addition, CN2 will support IPv6 addressing and provide finer control over network traffic routing and quality of service.Delivery and implementation of the contract will start the first quarter of 2005, and the CN2 network is expected to enter service by the end of 2005.