The ABP (Academy of Broadcasting Planning) under China's SARFT (State Administration of Radio Film and Television) and Ericsson recently entered into a strategic MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), whereby they will collaborate in the R&D of NGB (Next Generation Broadcasting) services and technologies, the Sohu IT News reported on February 23. These two parties have officially begun their first project. Under the tie-up, Ericsson will provide its digital Connected Home solution for new NGB services developed by SARFT's ABP. In addition, the ABP will set up a new NGB experience center, to serve as a R&D platform to accelerate the development process of NGB technology and the implementation of pan-China NGB networks.

 

In 2009, the SARFT already inked an agreement with the Shanghai municipal government, under which the SARFT would begin the construction of a NGB trial network in Shanghai and was anticipated to cover 500,000 users before 2010, according again to the Sohu IT News. Aside from Shanghai, other cities are expected to follow suit to upgrade their existing cable TV networks to NGB networks.