Salira Optical Network Systems, a leading provider of optical access systems, announced recently that Hunan Telecom (Changsha) has selected the Salira 2000 Platform to deliver broadband services during the Fifth China Inter-City Games.

The multi-venue athletic tournament was widely viewed as a prelude to the Olympic Games that China will host in Beijing in 2008. Hunan Telecom, the operating unit of China Telecom Group (CTG) in Hunan province, installed the data communications network for the tournament to allow participants and organizers to transmit results, distribute news reports and access the Internet in the main stadium.

"Salira's products performed at the highest levels during this showcase event," said Yong Li, Deputy Chief Engineer of Hunan Telecom's Changsha Branch. "Salira has an advanced PON architecture that was well-suited to the situation, and the company will be an important part of our infrastructure improvements in Hunan province going forward."

China's Inter-City Games is an athletic event similar to the Olympics that is held every five years. Participants from cities across China compete in a variety of athletic events over the course of ten days. This year's tournament attracted a record 3,000 athletes from 70 cities throughout China. The announcement was made as Salira demonstrated the Salira 2000 Platform at the PT Wireless & Networks Comm China 2003 event in Beijing.