Driven by bandwidth-rich applications such as mobile broadband, high-definition video (HDTV), enterprise video conference, IP traffic continues to grow rapidly. The latest report from the ABI shows that in the coming five years, the annual compound growth rate of the IP traffic will reach 50%, in which the growth rate accounts for 62% to the total growth rate. The report also shows that the growth rate of the broadband access for mobile networks reaches as high as 128%. All these facts indicate that the network has rapidly entering the ultra-broadband era.

The rapid increase of network broadband poses higher requirements on the core network routers. As more and more problems on the capacity, reliability and expansibility of single-chassis core router, it has evidently bottlenecked the speedup of network broadband. Thus, operators require IP CORE backbone routers to provide larger interface capacity for faster higher data forwarding, and perform more efficiently in route convergence and smooth expansion. The router cluster technology emerges as the time required. The so-called cluster consists of a group of routers that are interconnected with each other through the cluster central chassis (CCCs) and are functioning as one cluster logically, which improves the data forwarding capability of a core node. The cluster technology is an effective solution to dealing with network explosion. In addition, it fosters the flat network architecture and helps secure operators' investment. The cluster technology, therefore, becomes a preferential solution to core node deployment.
 
As one of the three "cluster club" members, Huawei continuously creates values for the customers by means of technological innovation. With the "hard" capability of self-developed switching/forwarding/traffic managing chipsets and the "soft" capability of multi-core-multi-process all-service VRP platform, in August, 2004, Huawei has launched NE5000E core router, based on the 16+64 system architecture with many key innovations and core patents. In March, 2006, Huawei has launched unique NE5000E back-to-back cluster system, which save the CCC and largely reduce deployment cost. In April, 2008, Huawei has launched industry' s first NE5000E 2+8 10T cluster system, symbolizing significant breakthrough in router capacity. In November, 2008, NE5000E 2+4 cluster system passed the extreme test conducted by China Telecom Guangdong research institute, amazingly demonstrated "zero loss" under full load for 48 hours. In August, 2009, industry' s first NE5000E 2+4 5T cluster system has been commercially deployed in Shaanxi Telecom metro core, featuring smooth expansion from existing back-to-back cluster. In September, 2009, Huawei has launched industry' s first end-to-end 100G solution and expanded the switching capability of 16+64 cluster system to 200T, ensuring more capacity, more reliability and more flexibility.
 
As the world's leading provider of telecommunications solutions, Huawei has more than 21 years experiences in telecom area and more than 15 years in IP area. Huawei has zealous employees and strong R&D capabilities and rapidly responds to the customers' requirements, thus providing end-to-end customized products, solutions and ser vices. In IP area, Huawei has set up research institutes in USA, Germany, India and Beijing, Nanjing and Shenzhen of China and has 16,000 engineers engaging in IP and IP-related areas. By the end of June, 2009, Huawei has applied for 2,700 patents in IP area totally.

Now, Huawei has served 36 of the top 50 operators in the world, constructing more than 120 backbone networks and more than 620 Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) in 102 countries and regions. As the flagship product of Huawei' s IPTime solution for backbone networks, over 1,000 sets of NE5000E, including 40 clusters have been shipped to over 80 global operators, including China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, Deutsche Telekom, France Telecom, Portugal Sonaecom, Singapore SingTel and Philippines Globe. By the end of June, 2009, Huawei has deeply cooperated with over 80 leading operators in IP backbone network and becomes the best ALL-IP convergence strategy partner of the global operators.