Ericsson has been chosen by China Mobile Communications Corporation (China Mobile) to provide equipment for its CMNet Phase Two IP backbone networks expansion in all 31 Chinese provinces and autonomous regions.

The Phase Two expansion will increase backbone bandwidth, reliability and the range of mobile Internet applications available to China Mobile subscribers. This expansion will improve overall scalability in China Mobile's network and facilitate more efficient use of bandwidth through Multiple Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) traffic engineering. Ericsson is providing best-in-class IP/MPLS routing platforms through its long-term strategic relationship with Juniper Networks. Implementation of the expansion will start immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of October this year.

Under the new contract, Ericsson will be providing industry-leading AXI 580-3 and AXI 520-8 IP backbone routers, while expanding the existing AXI 520-4 routers. The latest model AXI 580-3 router, which was introduced this year with an MPLS enabler, will be deployed for the first time in China during the new expansion. Ericsson was also the sole equipment supplier of China Mobile's Phase One IP backbone networks in 2000.