Redback Networks (RBAK) has announced milestones in broadband service deployments with carriers in China, including carrier wins in 22 provinces.

In China, five carriers are either using or plan to use in the future Redback's multi-service edge router to help deliver IPTV service in Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shaanxi and Heilongjiang provinces. Because China has little cable TV infrastructure, these five telephone carriers hope to sign up to 500,000 IPTV users as a competitive alternative to satellite and broadcast TV services.

"China is a leader in broadband service delivery, delivering high-speed Internet, telephone and TV services over a single IP-infrastructure," said Simon Williams, vice president of sales and operations in Asia Pacific, Redback Networks. "Redback supports China's vision that next-generation broadband services will help to foster economic growth in the future."

Redback's SmartEdge family of multi-service edge routers have now been deployed in 22 provinces, serving millions of business and residential broadband customers. There are about 30 million DSL users in China, about 20% of the DSL users worldwide, according to Point-Topic, a U.K.-based telecommunications research firm.