Alcatel to Build First China Mobile Network

DALLAS, Dec. 12 -- Alcatel has signed a contract worth $15 million with China Mobile, the world's largest global system for mobile communications (GSM) operator, to build its first optical transmission backbone network.

China Mobile's network will cover all the provinces and municipalities in China's northeast region, connecting Beijing, Tianjin, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang, Hebei and Inner Mongolia. The 4,700-kilometer-long optical ring network will be the operator's first national transmission backbone and will deliver better voice and data communication services in China's rapidly growing telecom market.