Ericsson (ERIC) has been selected by Central China Power Grid as the sole supplier for its East-West Corridor Optical Transmission Project.

Mats H Olsson, President, Ericsson Greater China, says "The contract has further strengthened our long-term solid relationship with China's power industry. With our world leading optical solutions and experiences, we will be able to support CCPG in providing safe, secure and high-performance power services to over 380 million users across Central and South Western China."

Under the contract, Ericsson will supply its most advanced Optical MultiService transport and switching platforms to build an optical transmission backbone network for CCPG.

Upon completion of the network, the transmission capacity of central and south western provinces in China will be greatly enhanced, local electric resources utilized, and local telecommunications improved. Most significantly, it will help improve the supply of power to economically booming areas of Central and South Western China.

The East-West Corridor Optical Transmission Project is the most important one of CCPG's 11th Five-Year Plan. The optical transmission network to be constructed will pass through Hubei and Sichuan provinces and Chongqing Municipality, covering 55 stations and 1,500 kilometers. The entire project is due to be completed and put into operation by 2009.

Ericsson has so far supplied the SDH OMS3200 series, OMS1600 series, OMS1200 series, SMA series3/4 and PCM to China's major power companies, including China Southern Power Grid Corporation, State Grid Corporation of China and its subsidiaries covering North and East China, as well as numerous provincial and local power companies.

The contract highlights the benefits of the Marconi acquisition to Ericsson's customers, who value having a strategic partner and a provider of full service broadband solutions including cutting-edge microwave and optical transport networks, broadband access and IMS.