In October 2014, ZTE won the competition to become the systems integrator for this project. As such, ZTE is providing its IMS-based RCS solution with an initial planned capacity of 100 million subscribers, including multimedia messaging, voice over network calling, video calling, and address book features. This is the world's largest commercial IMS Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) project.
China Mobile has deployed the IMS service on its own network. The launch of this new service clearly demonstrates the accelerating deployment and development of IMS networks, signaling the arrival of the vIMS era. Building an RCS network on an NFV-based vIMS platform allows for equipment standardization and the decoupling of hardware and service. It also enables the automatic deployment and flexible scaling of service carrier networks, improving resource utilization. This ensures rapid system response, shortens expansion and implementation times, and helps operators reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) and guarantee a smooth system evolution.
Mr. Gong Dehua, Vice President of ZTE's Core Network Product Line, stated: "ZTE's RCS converged communications system redefines basic communication services and enables China Mobile to build new calling, messaging, and contact data services. It also allows for the enhancement of traditional experiences such as voice calls and messaging, deploying new information service platforms through open channels and functions."
In this project, ZTE offers a GSMA-compliant RCS solution that provides service engine functionalities, an external interface, and easy and quick access and support for third-party applications. It also helps operators target other market segments—enterprise, home, etc.—and expands applications across vertical industries, while building and adding value to the mobile ecosystem.
Currently, ZTE's NFV network has 12 commercial contracts, 32 proof-of-concept (PoC) projects, and is developing partnerships with Vodafone, Telefónica, and other leading operators, enabling them to build a smart, consistent, and innovative network.

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