ZTE, TIM Brasil establish broadband innovation center

ZTE Corp. (H: 0763.HK/A: 000063.SZ) says it has signed an agreement with TIM Brasil to set up a joint laboratory and innovation center in Brazil to spearhead research into next-generation broadband technologies.

In a ceremony at the Itamaraty Palace in Brasilia attended by President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China and President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil, ZTE and TIM Brasil also agreed to partner on ultra-broadband projects over the next three years.

The Joint Innovation Center of ZTE and TIM Brasil will focus on research in broadband technologies including next-generation passive optical networks (PONs) such as XG-PON and NG-PON2 as well as G.Fast.

The framework agreement between ZTE and TIM Brasil was signed by Yu Xin, vice president of ZTE Corp., and Mario Girasole, vice president at TIM Brasil.

“ZTE is delighted to partner with TIM Brasil to develop broadband technologies of the future,” Yu said. “ZTE is committed to investment in innovations in next-generation broadband technologies, which will be fundamental to the development of future telecommunications and information technology services.”

ZTE is the largest provider of broadband network equipment to TIM Brasil, a subsidiary of Telecom Italia, which is the second largest mobile operator in Brazil. TIM Brasil’s network covers 3,400 cities and 95% of Brazil’s urban population. The pair partnered to deploy broadband networks in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, rolling out what they claim are some of the most advanced broadband deployments in Latin America. ZTE also partners with TIM to provide Live TIM, which is TIM’s offering in fixed-line ultra- broadband.

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