-- WiMAX will be built in Angola for Mundostartel.

ZTE Corporation (Shenzhen: 000063, Hong Kong:0763), China´s largest listed telecommunications manufacturer and leading wireless solutions provider, is to deploy its first ever Africa commercial WiMAX network in Angola following an agreement signed recently with Mundostartel, Angola´s 2nd largest fixed-line operator.

ZTE will provide Mundostartel with the equipment to build a nationwide WiMAX network by January 2006. All the equipment provided by ZTE complies fully with WiMAX standards. The network will cover three cities and will provide broadband and VoIP services for more than six million people, including, in the first stage, Luanda, capital of Angola, Benguela and Lobito.

ZTE won the contract in competition with four other global telecoms equipment suppliers. Under the terms of the agreement, ZTE will supply Mundostartel with its end-to-end WiMAX solution including base stations and CPEs (Customer Premises Equipment) which offer smooth scalability to an 802.16e (mobile WiMAX) network, roaming support architecture and product serialisation.

"The provision of broadband communications is of huge benefit to businesses throughout Angola," said Mr. Carneiro, Mundostartel´s board chairman.  "We are committed to providing our customers with the most advanced technology available and this agreement with ZTE makes Mundostartel the nation´s frontrunner."

"ZTE is committed to providing cutting-edge wireless technology like WiMAX to countries such as Angola where fixed-line DSL is not the best means of providing the population with broadband access," said Dr Zhao Xianming, vice president of ZTE. 

This agreement follows recent ZTE announcements of WiMAX deployments in Islamabad, Pakistan and a nationwide network in Serbia.

ZTE has established three WiMAX R&D centers in America and China since its WiMAX operations began in 2002.  With more than 400 R&D personnel dedicated to WiMAX operations, ZTE owns a growing patent portfolio in the WiMAX field.

ZTE provides the full package of WiMAX products based on 2.3GHz, 2.5G, 3.3GHz, 3.5GHz, 3.7GHz, 5.8GHz, and multi-service terminals such as IP data, VoIP, WLAN, VPN and TDM.

ZTE has signed a partnership agreement with Intel Corporation and Fujitsu to develop and promote standards and specifications for WiMAX networks.  ZTE is also one of the 13 board members of the WiMAX forum.nearly 10% of its annual sales income into research and development; and has 25,000 employees, of which 70% have a bachelor or higher degree.