SHENZHEN, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The E-Plus Group and KPN Group Belgium have selected ZTE Corporation to supply HSPA-enabled 3G equipment for further expansion and technical upgrade of their mobile networks. The Chinese telecoms equipment provider will support both operators in all aspects of their customer-oriented voice and data network expansion strategy, focussing investment in the right technology at the right time.

In co-operation with the supplier ZTE, E-Plus Group and KPN Group Belgium plan to further expand their 3G networks over the next years. With ZTE's future-proof technologies the operators will offer mobile data services at speeds up to 21.6 MB per second and ensure a faster roll-out of mobile broadband coverage at significantly lower costs. Furthermore ZTE’s technology affords an easy and fast integration of future data acceleration standards in the new network infrastructure in Germany and Belgium.

For the E-Plus Group the selection of ZTE as new telecoms equipment provider means a faster increase of HSPA-availability for their customers. Today the E-Plus network already offers 90 percent of the German population with mobile broadband, primarily based on EDGE and 3G. To meet the growing mass market demand for mobile data communication the company consequently continues to upgrade the 3G network with HSPA. The customers will also continue to benefit from highly attractive pricing. “ZTE is a challenger in the European market and as such fits very well with E-Plus’ Challenger strategy,” says Thorsten Dirks, CEO of E-Plus Group.

For KPN Group Belgium (formerly known as BASE nv/sa) this contract with ZTE will allow the company to plan a faster roll-out of HSPA in Belgium. “In August 2009, we have announced the kick off of the roll out of HSPA on our network to offer commercial services to the Belgian population,” comments Libor Voncina, CEO of KPN Group Belgium.

For ZTE, one of the worldwide leading providers of telecoms equipment and network solutions the co-operation with E-Plus Group and KPN Group Belgium marks a significant milestone in their expansion to the European market.

“ZTE serves the world’s top mobile operators based on our ability to consistently deliver high-quality and high-capacity network performance. We are very happy to establish this strategic partnership with KPN Mobile International and together build a future-proof network,” said Mr. Yin Yimin, CEO and President of ZTE Corporation. ZTE will provide KPN Mobile International the products and tools to deliver the best quality network and most innovative services in the market, which should support them to compete in the market.

About ZTE

ZTE is a leading global provider of telecommunications equipment and network solutions. It has the widest and most complete product range in the world – covering virtually every sector of the wireline, wireless, service and terminals markets. The company delivers innovative, custom-made products and services to over 500 operators in more than 140 countries, helping them to achieve continued revenue growth and to shape the future of the world’s communications. ZTE commits around 10% of its annual turnover to research and development and takes a leading role in a wide range of international bodies developing emerging telecoms standards. ZTE leads China's 3G industry with about 36% share of the total 3G equipment in 2009. A company with sound corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, ZTE is a member of the UN Global Compact that strictly adheres to the Ten Principles of the Global Compact in developing and carrying out CSR programs. ZTE is China’s only listed telecoms manufacturer, with shares publicly traded on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ). For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

About KPN Group Belgium

KPN Group Belgium nv/sa is a 100% subsidiary of Koninklijke KPN N.V. KPN offers mobile voice and data services in Germany (E-Plus and its sister brands), Belgium (BASE and its sister brands) and the Netherlands (KPN, Hi and Telfort). At the end of September 2009, KPN Group Belgium had 718 employees. In 2008, KPN Group Belgium had a yearly turnover of 647 million euro and a market share in number of mobile customers of ca. 24%. The company’s headquarters are in Brussels; it positions itself as an innovator in products and services via a segmented, multibranded approach. KPN Group Belgium commercializes the brands BASE, Ay Yildiz, Simyo, Zoniq and BASE business.

About E-Plus Group

The E-Plus Group is the challenger on the German mobile communications market. Simple services tailored to actual customer needs and a major reduction in call and data charges can be traced back to the initiative of the third-largest mobile network operator. As a result the E-Plus Group has been able to significantly strengthen its market position and shows a dynamic and profitable development. The E-Plus Group is the first multi-brand company in mobile communications in Germany. The flat-rate brand BASE and the mobile discounters simyo and blau.de complete the range of services for customers of the E-Plus brand. AY YILDIZ is the first mobile brand for the Turkish community in Germany. Partners also include many other brands, such as MedionMobile (AldiTalk), MTV and VIVA. 18.7 million customers are using the network of the E-Plus Group to make calls and send text messages or data. The Group generates annual revenues of €3.2 billion (2008) and employs more than 2,500 people (FTE) in Germany.

E-Plus Group
Guido Heitmann, +49 211 448 3204
Manager Corporate Communications
Fax: +49 211 448 4777
guido.heitmann@eplus-gruppe.de
www.eplus-gruppe.de/presse
or
KPN Group Belgium
Bart Vandesompele, +32 484 00 63 33
Head of Corporate Communication
Fax: +32 484 00 72 14
bart.vandesompele@kpngroup.be
www.KPNGroup.be
or
ZTE Corporation
Margrete Ma, +86 755 26775207
ma.gaili@zte.com.cn