Compatibility between the two network management tools will enable some 500 operators within ZTE's commercial partnerships to monitor network performance from a single management platform. As well as delivering significant process efficiencies, the solution will also ensure networks are monitored by a consistent set of KPI's, automatically highlighting network issues in near real-time.

"ZTE has established an excellent working relationship with AIRCOM and it gives me great pleasure to announce that our tools have been successfully integrated to work together," said XU HAO, wireless OMC Director, ZTE. "We will continue to share technical expertise and provide ongoing support across Asia and the rest of the world to deliver exciting, new, value added services to our customers."

OPTIMA is part of AIRCOM's ENTERPRISE suite of products and features a multi-user environment that will allow ZTE to monitor networks from multiple offices, departments and geographies. It has the ability to identify issues such as sleeping cell sites that would previously go unnoticed, ensuring ZTE's operator networks will run at optimal performance. The result is a dramatic reduction in OPEX, removing the need for additional infrastructure investment.

Commenting on the deal, Nick Brown, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at AIRCOM, said, "This is another significant development for AIRCOM. ZTE is one of the most exciting new world equipment vendors and close cooperation with them has enabled us to develop a network management tool that will remain fully compliant with its continuous network development programme. As a result of these successful integration tests, AIRCOM can provide long term ZTE certification for our range of network optimisation tools, which will be particularly important as 3G rolls out across Asia.

"In times of economic uncertainty, it's absolutely critical that operators have the right tools in place to maintain an accurate picture of their network and avoid unnecessary expenditure," continued Brown. "Quality of service and customer experience need to be continually maintained, and I am confident our combined expertise will deliver operational efficiencies to operators right across the globe."

About AIRCOM International

AIRCOM is an independent provider of network and data management tools and services. The company specialises in end-to-end network planning, sharing, outsourcing and OSS optimisation for IP and cellular networks.

Headquartered in the UK with offices in 18 countries, AIRCOM has more than 10 years' experience across 131 countries for over half the world's mobile operators, including more than 3.5 million man hours working on 3G networks alone. Every day 19 out of the 20 top global operators depend upon AIRCOM's tools and consultants to improve the coverage and customer experience for more than 1.1 billion subscribers.

AIRCOM continues to grow its customer base each year, offering advice, training and support services, backed by high performance tools designed to deliver real benefits for both subscribers and operators.

www.aircominternational.com