The ZTE Innovation Centre, housed alongside QiComm’s core interconnects and data centre, will enable ZTE to run any of its infrastructure products in a live network environment, massively increasing the UK operation’s ability to develop, test and demonstrate both wireless and wireline equipment in the UK market. It will also help house the fast-growing ZTE infrastructure support and development team currently based in ZTE’s UK headquarters in Brentford, West London.
The UK Innovation Centre is the first of 10 international Innovation Centres ZTE is building in countries including Spain, France and Germany to enable it to carry out R&D programmes in close cooperation with major operators.
QiComm was recently appointed as ZTE’s preferred service integration partner in the UK market. QiComm will provide UK-focused implementation and support in the shape of systems integration, project management, logistics and ancillaries.
The partnership will provide fixed line and wireless operators with access, transmission and switching solutions as well as access to QiComm’s recently completed Tutis Point data centre. Based in London Docklands Tutis Point is a class-leading data centre that is interconnected with major operators and London’s three main Telehouses, it also houses ZTE’s carrier class switching systems.
“The combination of the QiComm relationship and ZTE’s own Innovation Centre housed alongside QiComm, means that ZTE is now a force to be reckoned with in the UK telecoms infrastructure market,” said ZTE UK MD Jim Jing Hui. “We now have the ability to service operators of any size, anywhere in the UK, and the ability to demonstrate, test and develop our entire range of fixed line and wireless products in live network situations.
“ZTE has a complete portfolio of network infrastructure equipment covering every major telecoms technology. QiComm has extensive systems integration expertise in the UK market and has established relationships with all UK operators. This is a powerful combination that means we are able to more effectively and actively compete in the UK telecom infrastructure market.”
“Service providers and businesses are faced with a complex set of requirements as the demand for cloud computing, web-based services and high-speed data connections continue to increase. Organisations are now looking for equipment providers with local expertise that can offer services at a price that is competitive and ensure ongoing support,” said Iain Brotherston, Head of Systems Integration for QiComm. “ZTE and QiComm have combined to introduce equipment solutions into the market that deliver effective planning, design, deployment and integration, besides monitoring and management.”
The ZTE Innovation Centre houses a test and demonstration suite in which any ZTE network equipment can be installed, with a full connection via QiComm to the major commercial UK telecom networks. It also includes offices, meeting rooms and a training and demonstration centre. The ZTE Innovation Centre can be found at London City Reach in Docklands.