January 17, 2005 Paris -- Alcatel has signed a multi-million contract with China Telecom to deploy an optical backbone network spanning 2,300 km across the southeastern part of China. The new transport infrastructure will provide connectivity for the ChinaNet2 (CN2) network. The contract was won through Alcatel Shanghai Bell, Alcatel's Chinese flagship company.

The new optical backbone network will link seven Chinese cites and will comprise two main transmission lines: one spanning from Shanghai to Guangzhou through Changsha and the other one connecting Shanghai to Xuzhou, via Chongming, Nantong and Lianyungang.

The deployment of the Alcatel equipment will enable China Telecom to meet the growing demand for nationwide IP-based data services with the highest level of reliability and quality of service (QoS). This will be the first implementation of an ultra long-haul DWDM network in China, with Alcatel supplying its 1626 Light Manager platform. Alcatel's IP Service Router was also recently selected for use in the ChinaNet2 IP/MPLS network