15 July 2009, Shenzhen, China– ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, today announced that it is rolling out a state-of-the-art all-IP mobile phone and data network for Madamobil, a new mobile operator in Madagascar.

Madamobil is owned and operated by Life Telecom Holdings (a telecom investment and management firm based in the Netherlands) in partnership with TECOM Investments (a subsidiary of Dubai Holdings, one of the largest institutional investors in the Middle East).

The network rollout is currently in its final stages with ZTE supplying the core equipment and the base stations for the first phase of the network construction. Madamobil expects to launch services by August 2009 in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, and to then expand into other cities in Madagascar.  

Madamobil,which will offer services under the “Life” brand, is the only mobile broadband network operation in Madagascar operating on CDMA 2000 1X/EVDO. ZTE’s recognized excellence in deployment of CDMA 2000 1X/EVDO networks will allow Madamobil to offerits subscribers not just crystal quality voice services but also high bandwidth services not currently offered by the current GSM operators, such as mobile broadband, email, music downloads, video telephony, mobile TV, content and location based services, e-commerce, multicasting (one-to-many) multimedia content delivery, advanced and streaming multimedia, customized data both for the corporate market and the retail market, videoconferencing, distance learning and telemedicine.

The highly futuristic core network is based on ZTE's layered architecture which is currently an all IP environment, and includes the latest core based on Mobile Soft-switch; a robust Mobile Packet Backbone Network for data services; and a billing platform using intelligent network technology to deliver innovative pre-paid and post paid services to users with the shortest time-to-market as well as to allow Madamobil to charge differentially for both voice and data.

 “ We are very impressed so far with ZTE’s superior technology and level of client commitment. In the wider scheme of things, we view this as the beginning of a fruitful relationship with ZTE in our efforts to further develop our footprint in Africa, both in CDMA and GSM and future evolutions of both technologies, ”said Mr. Amit Jain CEOof Life Telecom Holdings.

Life Telecom Holdings plans to invest in the acquisition and roll out of 5 to 7 other mobile telephony licences in Africa over the next 2 to 3 years and expects that its capital spend over the next 5 years will be well in excess of 500Million USD. Life Telecom Holdings will continue to seek partnerships with equipment providers such as ZTE in view of expanding its subscriber base throughout Africa.