The center is Alcatel's first R&I center in the Asia-Pacific and one of six worldwide.

"The new center will undertake the development of world-class technologies and product concepts to offer to telecom customers in China and the rest of the world," said Andrew Young, president of Alcatel Shanghai Bell, yesterday at the center?s opening ceremony.

As an integrated part of Alcatel's worldwide advanced research endeavors, it will complement the strategic R&I projects conducted by Alcatel throughout the world.

Initially, the Alcatel Shanghai Bell R&I center will focus on advanced broadband access solutions and the fourth generation of mobile phone technologies, according to Niel Ransom, chief technology officer for Alcatel.

Within the Alcatel Group, the R&I division conducts the most advanced research on promising new technologies and product solutions. Over the last two years, it brought to Alcatel cutting-edge innovations including Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) optical transmission, IP switching and routing, network management and broadband access systems, and significantly contributed to the competitiveness of Alcatel's UMTS offer.

As a full member of this organization, the Alcatel Shanghai Bell R&I center will define new product concepts and carry out technology analysis, product pre-development and prototyping for Alcatel's business divisions.

"The opening of our R&I center here stands testimony to Alcatel's commitment to developing Alcatel Shanghai Bell as one of our science and technology pillars worldwide," said Ransom.

"We firmly believe that China is quickly becoming one of the world's largest telecom markets, accompanied by its own technological innovation."

Xu Zhiqun, Alcatel Shanghai Bell CTO, said: "We are currently working on six major projects in our newly established center."

The establishment of this center follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Ministry of Information Industry and Alcatel in October 2001, in which Alcatel Shanghai Bell gained access to Alcatel's global technology pool -- cementing the company's position as the telecom technology leader in the country.

(China Daily December 11, 2002)