ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- China's largest listed telecom equipment manufacturer* has selected the Agere Systems (NYSE: AGR) APP300 network processor-based family of product offerings for its widely adopted Internet Protocol Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) platforms.

ZTE Corporation (Pink Sheets: ZTCOF) will use Agere's TrueAdvantage(TM) Converged Access Solutions, announced earlier this year, in ZTE's DSL access platforms. These Agere solutions feature the APP300 (Advanced Payload Plus(R)) series of network processors, software, reference designs, software tools and development platforms.

In its efforts to address international markets, ZTE, the second largest provider of DSLAM equipment in China, chose to base its offering on the APP300, Agere's fourth-generation network processor, because of the APP300's robust and market-leading** traffic processing capabilities, easy-to-program software architecture, flexible interfaces and high scalability across a broad range of applications.

The APP300 makes it possible for companies such as ZTE to offer feature- rich services such as high-definition Internet Protocol Television and Voice Over Internet Protocol, while providing a platform solution that satisfies the stringent price requirements for the Chinese market.

Given ZTE's focus on the international market, it is vital that their platforms support a diverse breadth of service provider requirements, which often vary by region or service provider. Furthermore, there are numerous industry standards bodies involved in shaping a dynamic set of sophisticated requirements for triple-play-capable, next-generation access networks. To effectively meet these requirements, a DSLAM line card traffic processor must support a number of key features today, with the ability to easily implement new features as access networks continue to evolve. Some examples include:

By adopting a line card processor such as Agere's APP300, ZTE delivers a future-proof platform that enables a high service velocity. Coupling the powerful APP300 hardware architecture with a highly efficient software programming model ensures ZTE will be able to get to market quickly with standard features while retaining the ability to rapidly implement new or enhanced features and services (service velocity).

This will provide DSLAM makers such as ZTE the capability of differentiating themselves in both breadth and depth of features when responding to service provider requests for quotation (RFQs).

"ZTE needed to choose a proven network processor platform that offers a flexible, reusable and easily programmable architecture to satisfy the diverse and evolving broadband access market needs," said Maoping He, chief engineer of ZTE's broadband access product. "Agere's APP300 family will allow ZTE to meet challenging cost-per-port targets we are facing while also delivering high-performance solutions that span a wide range of channel capacities and speeds."

"ZTE is a leader in China's telecommunications equipment market, and provides a broad portfolio of telecommunications equipment," said Mark Cieri, director of business development for Agere's Telecom Division. "This business relationship encompasses a wide array of opportunities for Agere and we look forward to supporting ZTE's vision of continued leadership in China, as well as accelerating its growth in the international markets. This ZTE design win is another major milestone for Agere in the broadband access market."

Agere Systems Inc.