Nortel Networks has recently announced that China Unicom is deploying CDMA2000 1X networks based on Nortel Networks solutions in four markets in China, having commenced in April 2003 and being expected to be fully completed by the end of 2003.

These deployments, which are expected to enable more comprehensive coverage and richer applications in Chongqing Municipality and in Zhejiang, Shandong and Heilongjiang provinces, are part of Phase 3 of China Unicom's expansion of its nationwide CDMA2000 1X network.

Since 2001, Nortel Networks has supplied solutions to China Unicom for Phase 1 and Phase 2 of the expansion, with the contracts underlying these deployments estimated to be worth approximately US$139 million overall.

It is anticipated that these expansions will provide China Unicom with increased CDMA2000 1X network capacity for close to six million subscribers in the four markets, paving the way for end users to enjoy higher-end applications including video gaming, Web surfing, Multimedia Messaging Service, and other high-speed wireless data services.