China-based equipment maker ZTE has landed a contract to supply network equipment for Indian operator Reliance Communications.
The contract covers 2G and 3G equipment in eight of Reliance's 13 network circles in India. Reliance is deploying GSM and UMTS and will be able to upgrade its network to 4G, although it lacks the BWA spectrum other Indian operators will use to deploy LTE and WiMAX networks.
A ZTE spokesperson called the contract with Reliance Communications a "key milestone" for ZTE in India. "As always, ZTE will continue to invest in and address the India market and treat Indian accounts as our global strategic partners," the spokesperson said in a statement.
ZTE's efforts to break into the fast-growing India telecommunications market had been stymied by government concerns over security, resulting in a ban on the importation of Chinese telecom infrastructure equipment. The Indian government lifted the ban last month, allowing orders for equipment manufactured by companies including ZTE and Huawei to proceed.