LONDON -- Marconi (London, NASDAQ: MONI), a global provider of advanced communications solutions, has expanded its penetration of the Chinese communications market, with a wave of new contracts to supply leading-edge solutions to provincial telecoms operators, regional utility companies and a cable television enterprise which is moving into internet technology.

The new contracts won by Marconi include four from provincial operators owned by China Unicom - the country's second largest telecoms company. They are in Shanghai, Guangdong, Anhui and Fujian, who between them have purchased Marconi solutions worth US$35 million. A fifth provincial operator, Ningxia Telecom, part of China Telecom, has also bought Marconi SDH to develop its network. Two of China's major regional utility companies, North China and North East China Electric & Power, have chosen Marconi SDH to build an inter-company connection carrying voice and data at high speed over optical fibre. And in southern China, regional cable television company Jiangmen CATV has purchased a Marconi switching solution which will create a new high speed internet protocol (IP) network serving banks, power utilities, businesses and official organisations including customs.

Yudan Jin, Marconi Communications' president, Asia Pacific, said: "Our latest wins are clear evidence that operators throughout China see Marconi as a major solutions-provider in a broad range of network applications, as the country continues its programme of modernising and expanding its communications infrastructure. They also demonstrate the success of our strategy to develop our position in China with multiple routes to market, including joint manufacturing ventures with key local players and a strong marketing and customer service presence in-country."

http://www.marconi.com