Siemens takes off in China with convergent network technology Fujian Telecom orders IMS solution for multimedia applications

Fujian Telecom, a subsidiary of China's biggest telco China Telecom, has contracted Siemens Networks to implement and support an IP-based multimedia subsystem (IMS). This will enable Fujian Telecom to offer a broad array of multimedia applications and services to both fixed and mobile subscribers. For Siemens it is already the second big order for convergent network technology in China.

The new IMS platform will be deployed at the numerous trade fairs held every year in the Chinese province of Fujian. One of them is the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, which Fujian Telecom has supplied with telecommunications services for the last ten years. It will use IMS to expand its offer of services and applications, for example supporting fair organizers in their marketing and advertising activities and setting up a real-time tool for event coordination. In addition, visitors will be able to use information such as the check-in service for VIP hotel guests or the weather report from the mobile and fixed networks, in the same way across both networks. Also planned are IP-based voice and data services such as Voice over WLAN and IP-Centrex.

The deal covers not only installation but also support and maintenance for the IMS platform over the next five years. This will enable Fujian Telecom to focus on marketing, and its customer acquisition and care activities. By using a single platform only from now on, the telecoms operator will avoid having to set up different networks, and will therefore be able to reduce its running costs. “The order from Fujian Telecom confirms the trend towards convergent network technologies,” said Christoph Caselitz, President Mobile Networks at Siemens Networks. “We are also very glad that we have succeeded in winning a second customer for our IMS solution.” Last year, together with the CAEXPO trade fair office, the city administration in the east Chinese city of Nanning opted to buy the IP-based multimedia subsystem from Siemens.