BEIJING -- Ericsson and Juniper Networks today announced the second phase of their IP backbone deployment with FuJian CT, a subsidiary of China Telecom Group in FuJian province. Under the new contract, the second IP backbone contract for Ericsson with FuJian CT, Ericsson will provide its Packet Backbone Network solution, including its AXI 580 IP Backbone Routers (based on Juniper Networks M160 Internet routers) and switches from Extreme Networks. This is the second phase of a project announced in October 2001 to deploy the operator's provincial IP backbone network covering nine major cities in China's FuJian Province including FuZhou, XiaMeng, QuanZhou, and PuTian. Upon completion of the project, the routers will form an expansive broadband IP backbone providing a carrier-class platform for new, value-added services. With the expanded IP backbone, FuJian CT will offer Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based Virtual Private Network (VPN) services to its customers. As the sole end-to-end solution provider, Ericsson will supply the core network equipment, as well as extensive customer services such as installation, system support, and hardware replacement to FuJian CT. Ericsson AB Juniper Networks Inc. China Telecom