A relatively new player in the telecommunications arena is China-based ZTE, a state-assisted telecommunications equipment manufacturer with intellectual rights over its own products.With $1.3bn in sales last year and over $2bn projected for 2001, the company has been enjoying some success of late.With R&D departments dedicated to network solutions, software engineering, high-speed access technologies and CDMA technologies, among others, located in centers all around the world, ZTE is fast becoming a serious global player. Also, its marketing division already spans most of the planet.Yesterday at ITU Telecom Africa 2001, Mr. Yinong Li, director of the technical department of international marketing, presented his company and its extensive offerings to the African marketplace, as well as some glimpses into the future of telecommunications equipment as ZTE sees it.The company s catalogue offers potential clients a truly comprehensive range of equipment solutions in 18 categories of communication, consisting of over 100 products.Mobile GSM and CDMA solutions, migration to 3G technology, wireless on CDMA techniques, videoconferencing systems and intelligent networking solutions are all covered by ZTE, to name but a few.Solutions provided by the company include its ZXI10 service integrated platform, featuring full IP/VoIP module, STP and fixed SMS modules. This is a highly-reliable platform using open service software and hardware interfaces, with centralized management through a Q3 interface to the Network Management Services.This particular solution was implemented when Pakistani and Zambian national telecommunications networks. ZXI10 also forms an integral part of ZTE s involvement in the Cyprus National Intelligent Network project, which is extendable for both fixed and mobile communication services.Then there is the ZXA10 Service integrated fibre-optic access network solution. Fibre-optic transmission solutions from ZTE come in three, powerful flavours namely Standard, Compact and DWDM. For IP broadband there is the ZXR10/E10 solution, and ATM broadband is provided through a ZXB10.ZTE also offers complete solutions for GSM mobile systems, CDMA mobile and WLL solutions, and even a ZXMVC videoconferencing solution, an implementation of which has already been active in Kenya for the past two years.Looking ahead, this Chinese company is moving from circuit-oriented to packet-oriented solutions on all its available communications platforms, and has already signed trial agreements for Next Generation Networks based on its latest Netune Series Softswitch.As a fairly new player, ZTE has decided that in order to build brand confidence in the SA market, it will build trial and test solutions before any down-payments or guarantees of purchase are made.The company also provides localised services and support structures to further boost its position in the local market, with technology transfer to the African IT field planned for the future.ZTE is coming to Africa with a vengeance, as well as a mission to become a leading provider of telecommunications equipment to the continent.
