More contracts signed in Mongolia

China s ZTE Corporation says that it is now the largest provider of telecommunications equipment in Mongolia. The announcement follows a series of contracts won with Mongolia Telecom, the country s biggest fixed line operator; Skytel, the country s only CDMA mobile operator; and government departments including the Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA).

The new contracts follow the installation last year by ZTE of 30,000 lines of CDMA2000 1x equipment for Skytel. This network will now be expanded to cover the whole of Mongolia - the largest deployment of ZTE s IP CDMA2000 1X equipment. ZTE will also provide Mongolia Telecom with a range of telecommunications solutions, including NGN (next generation network), DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing), ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) and CDMA WLL (code-division multiple access wireless local loop) equipment.

"I am very pleased to be building on the positive relationships ZTE has already established in Mongolia," said Mr. Shi Lirong, senior vice president of ZTE. "Our CDMA2000 equipment provides cost-effective mobile solutions over great distances and is particularly suitable for the vast grasslands and desert plains of Mongolia.

"Communications in rural Mongolia have been very difficult in the past, but with our unique solutions over 60% of Mongolian people will now benefit from advanced mobile technology."

The signing of the new contracts was witnessed by Mr. Ulaan, the vice premier of Mongolia; Mr. Batkhuu, the minister of Mongolia s ICTA; and Ms Wu Yi, state councillor and vice premier of the People s Republic of China.