China Telecom (CHA) has selected the Cisco (CSCO) Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network architecture as the foundation of its 2006 ChinaNet network expansion and has named Cisco as the primary equipment provider for the project.

Cisco solutions that will be deployed in ChinaNet's network include the high-end Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System and significant upgrades to its existing Cisco 12000 Series Routers, which will expand the ChinaNet core network's capabilities, reliability and scalability.

ChinaNet is a public communication platform supporting China Telecom's Internet value-added service development. ChinaNet has 25 million broadband subscribers, delivering Internet access and value-added services such as Internet Data Center (IDC) and virtual network services. Market forecasters predict that China Telecom will have 38 million broadband subscribers by 2007.

The rapid growth of the broadband customer base, along with constantly expanding high-bandwidth Internet applications, including video phones, online games and video on demand (VoD), continue to stimulate demand for increased bandwidth.

Continuous increases of ChinaNet's network capacity are needed in order to meet business requirements, improve service quality and satisfy customer demand. The network has received seven upgrades since its commencement in 1995.

During the 2005 expansion, China Telecom deployed eight units of the Cisco CRS-1 to integrate and upgrade ChinaNet's supercore network nodes in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Tianjin, Xi'an, Chengdu, Wuhan and Nanjing.

The Cisco CRS-1 has greatly expanded ChinaNet's network capacity and enabled China Telecom to offer data, voice and video services on a converged IP network while at the same time offering protection on its investment in the system. The remarkably improved network performance in 2005 led to China Telecom naming Cisco as the primary equipment provider in the 2006 network expansion.