28 Sep 2011, Shenzhen, China – ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a publicly-listed global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, announced today it has signed a national optical backbone network contract with South African provider FibreCo.

The contract was signed by FibreCo President Andile Ngcaba and ZTE Senior Vice President Chen Jie. ZTE will solely construct phase one of the project, which includes 1,900 kilometers of fiber optic cable.

FibreCo was established by three leading South African telecom companies to upgrade optical networks across the country. The FibreCo national optical backbone network project aims to build a national open-access network, and will make affordable optical networks available to businesses, R&D centers and academic institutions.

As part of the project, ZTE will deploy several hundred sets of WDM devices. This includes the next-generation ZXWM M920 unit, which employs industry-leading WSS ROADM and 10G/40G transmission technologies and is upgradeable to 100G. In addition, built-in network planning software will enhance network management and planning, making efficient use of FibreCo resources while increasing network reliability and flexibility, thereby cutting capital and operating expenses.

"This landmark investment will provide affordable, reliable and fast Internet access to ordinary South Africans,” said FibreCo President Andile Ngcaba.

"ZTE is committed to supplying effective solutions for its customers,” remarked Ms. Chen. “We are proud to assist with improving telecommunications for South Africans.”

According to a report by renowned industry research firm Ovum, the global optical network market grew by 17 per cent to US$4.1 billion in the second quarter of 2011, compared to the same period of the previous year. The report also states that ZTE is the third ranking global provider in the optical network market and its second quarter 2011 revenues increased 45 per cent, compared to the same period a year earlier, reaching US$500 million for the first time. Furthermore, ZTE’s share of the optical network market insecond quarter 2011 rose to over 12 per cent, an all-time high. The company’s ZXCTN series PTN equipment, ZXONE 8000 serial OTN equipment, and other products such as the ZXONE 5800 MSTP were key drivers of its success.