Bookmark & share

[Caracas VENEZUELA – 11 September 2006] HUAWEI Technologies Co., Ltd. ("HUAWEI"), a leader in providing next generation telecommunications networks for carriers around the world, announced that it has signed an NGN network transformation contract, worth of more than US$ 50 million, with CANTV (NYSE:VNT), the leading provider of telecommunications services in Venezuela.

Under the contract, HUAWEI will help CANTV to transfer its traditional analog network to the next generation network and convert the legacy voice traffic into IP, which will provide centralized call control, centralized service provisioning and centralized subscriber profiles. The network transformation will deploy HUAWEI U-SYS solution including soft switches, media gateways, and multi-service access nodes.

CANTV following its vision to "improve Venezuelan people's life quality by providing telecommunication solutions that exceed the expectation of clients", began in 2005 an aggressive network modernization aligned with the positive cycle of investment in the telecom industry and the positive economical cycle in Venezuela due to the high oil prices.

Since September 2005, CANTV has been deploying Huawei's U-SYS NGN solution, reaching as May 2006 5% of the total fixed subscriber base. After a successful integration with the legacy system and fast deployment, the U-SYS NGN network is running satisfactorily nationwide.

Miguel Benatuil, General Manager of Technology and Operations of Cantv, remarks: "This project is a quantum leap in our ability to provide telecom services to our customers and increment our voice and data portfolio. HUAWEI cost-effective soltuions and commitment with our vision were the critical factors to select then in the transformation of our PSTN platform. Our expectations are also very high and we believe HUAWEI is going to exceed them, incrementing the value that we are adding to our business with this project".

Mr. Xu Jin, representative of HUAWEI Technologies de Venezuela stated, "This is a real milestone for HUAWEI in the massive deployment of Next Generation Network in the international market. We are proud that CANTV trusts and shares our vision of enriching people's life through communications, and will work close with CANTV to offer better quality and advanced services improving the life of millions of Venezuelans".

In 2006 CANTV continues its aggressive plan to transform its fixed voice network which converges the complete CANTV fixed subscriber base to the NGN service network, putting in place a future proof architecture with a clear migration path to the IMS.


About Compañía Anónima Nacional Teléfonos de Venezuela (CANTV)

Cantv, a Venezuelan corporation, is the leading Venezuelan telecommunications services provider with nearly 3.2 million switched fixed access lines in service, nearly 6.6 million mobile subscribers and over 379 thousand broadband subscribers as of June 30, 2006. The Company's principal strategic stockholder is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Verizon Communications Inc. with 28.5% of the capital stock. Other major stockholders include the Venezuelan Government with 6.6% of the capital stock (Class B Shares), employees, retirees and employee trusts which own 6.5% (Class C Shares) and the remaining 58.4% of the capital stock is held by public and other stockholders.For more information, please refer to CANTV web sites http://www.cantv.com.ve