The contracts continue a rush by Chinese telecom operators to deploy state-of-the-art networks ahead of foreign competition once Beijing enters the World Trade Organization, said Gerry Butters, chief strategist of Lucent.
Under an agreement reached with the U.S. last year, China has pledged to open the sector to foreign competition once it gains WTO membership, expected this year.
"What we've seen since the WTO agreement is a rush for cyber technology in China," Butters told Reuters in an interview. "That's the best of current generation wireless, new communications software and broadband data network equipment."
The Lucent deals are spread between all three of China's major operators -- demonstrating how domestic competition has heated up since the government began restructuring the sector last year.
