Ericsson has signed an agreement with China Netcom's subsidiary Beijing Netcom to help the company deploy an IMS-based multimedia network in Beijing, which will be the first IMS commercial-use network in China.

According to the agreement, Ericsson will be the sole supplier of Being Netcom's IMS system, and it will provide system integration service to make sure that the new system is in compliance with the existing network of Beijing Netcom.

Ericsson's IMS multimedia voice system will enable Beijing Netcom to provide more value-added services. Beijing Netcom says that it will be able to launch a wide array of new multimedia service by adopting IMS to improve its competitiveness and providing IP multimedia service.

The new network will be formally initiated this month.