24 February 2011, Shenzhen – ZTE Corporation (“ZTE”) (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, has announced the signing of an agreement with Tiscali for the development of an IMS network, a platform that can improve the multimedia functionalities of IP services and is compliant with every network technology. ZTE and Tiscali plan the launch of the first three commercial sites in Cagliari, Roma and Milano by the end of May and the migration of Tiscali subscribers to the new IMS platform by the end of the year.

ZTE will install a single platform in place of the two platforms currently utilised by Tiscali. By implementing the ZTE solution, Tiscali will make its network management easier and more efficient, reducing energy consumption and optimising operational costs.

"We are glad to build our partnership with ZTE by choosing the IMS platform," said Luca Scano, Tiscali General Director, "With the introduction of this unique platform, we will manage to optimise time, resources and results on all our IP communications services, from mobile and fixed phone calls to internet access, from social networks to email, giving our customers a big advantage in terms of price and quality of service. Again, our strategic orientation is towards fixed-mobile convergence and this leads us to choose solutions which make communication freedom the focus of our products," said Scano.

"With the transition to multimedia services and an all-IP network, operators can go beyond the concept of providing users with simple network supply, thus increasing their control over the services. The introduction to IMS technology offers operators the power and flexibility to provide customers with a complete range of services, keeping an advanced position compared to traditional operators or to internet service providers,"commented Jeffrey FAN, General Manager of ZTE Italy. "Our strong commitment to innovation and our constant investment in research and development show that ZTE is in the forefront of the development and implementation of cutting-edge technologies. It is an honour to widen our partnership with Tiscali and to demonstrate to the Italian market the advantage that ZTE technological know-how can bring."

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is built on IP-CAN (IP Connectivity Access Network), a 3GPP technology architecture, which is considered an ideal network architecture, as well as being a key medium for fixed-mobile convergence. The intent of IP-CAN is to bring the traditional telecom model to IP networks, making it chargeable, controllable and manageable. As one of the few suppliers that have the ability to provide an end-to-end solution, ZTE sets great emphasis on IMS technology and has adopted the IMS system solution as a strategic next generation product.

IMS platform services offered

The ZTE IMS solution offers versatile services which consist of three types of Application Server Functions (ASF): SIP application server, IM SSF application server and the OSA SCS application server.

For instance, Instant Messaging (IM) gives users the ability to communicate with one via text, but also enables various attachments to be added. With Presence service, users can obtain presence information (user status, communication capabilities, and personal hobbies) on the basis of certain access guidelines and then give them to other users. Moreover the ONLY (One Number Links You) service integrates traditional telecom technologies and modern IP technologies. With this service, users can not only implement traditional phone-to-phone, phone-to-PC, and PC to SIP phone communication modes, but can also use automatic call forwarding to voice mailbox, call forwarding to short message, and call forwarding to Email.

ZTE, as the fastest growing global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions, offers a standard-based, best-in-class, and carrier-grade IMS solution to wireless, wire line, and integrated operators. ZTE's IMS solution can be tailored for operator specific requirements.