BEIJING – Nortel Networks* [NYSE/TSE: NT], the world's leading provider of high-performance Optical Internet solutions, today announced new optical infrastructure contracts – collectively estimated to be worth US$44 million – with three China Telecom regional carriers.

This includes what is believed to be the largest provincial optical networking contract announced to date – a 12-month, estimated US$34 million agreement with Hebei Telecom for delivery and installation of a 10 gigabits-per-second (Gbps) optical network to link the 11 major cities of Hebei province. This is expected to increase Hebei Telecom’s network capacity by more than 50 times. Jiangsu Telecom and Jiangxi Telecom have also signed contracts for 10 Gbps optical solutions, bringing the estimated value of Nortel Networks optical contracts announced in China over the last month to US$172 million and strengthening Nortel Networks leadership position in delivering the new, high-performance Optical Internet to China.

“The new network will form a high-speed, high-capacity information expressway, unleashing the great potential of broadband, broadband leasing and narrow band services, ” said Li Xiaoping, general manager, Hebei Telecom. “Since the 1980s Hebei Telecom has cooperated closely with Nortel Networks by installing Nortel Networks equipment, which has performed well and has played a key role in supporting the rapid development of Hebei Telecom.”

http://www.nt.com