China Unicom selects Siemens to build 15,000-km optical network

China United Telecommunications Corp. Ltd. (China Unicom) has selected Siemens to build its optical national backbone network in a deal worth more than $50 million. The Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group (ICN) will deliver its optical network MTS system to China Unicom, with a total length of more than 15,000 km over 200 stations. This is the largest optical network contract from China Unicom to date.

The optical network will cover a wide range of areas, including 14 major eastern provinces and 4 municipalities. There are five nationwide routes making up the main backbone of the project, namely Wuhan-Nanjing-Shanghai, Beijing-Shanghai-Guangzhou, Beijing-Shijiazhuang-Zhengzhou-Wuhan-Changsha-Guangzhou, Tianjin-Shenyang, and Zhengzhou-Xian-Chengdu-Chongqing-Guiyang-Changsha. Siemens ICN has won other contracts in China for 10-Gbit and DWDM optical solutions, spanning 40,000 km.

China Unicom Ltd. is an operator that offers a full range of telecom services in China, including fixed lines, mobile subscriptions, and various value-added Internet services.

Siemens Information and Communication Networks Group (ICN) provides integrated voice and data networks for enterprises, carriers and service providers. For more information, visit www.icn.siemens.com.