Turkey’s incumbent fixed line carrier and Europe’s fifth largest operator has tapped Chinese equipment vendor ZTE for what it claims is the world’s largest ever fixed network replacement contract.

Under the contract, which is for an undisclosed sum, ZTE is the sole supplier of core network equipment and services for Turk Telekom’s nationwide all-IP network transformation project, delivering 17.5 million lines over more than 31 sites, replacing the ageing PSTN kit.

ZTE will be providing an IMS (IP multimedia subsystem) core network, service platform, MSANs (multi-service access nodes) and large-capacity trunking gateways, allowing Turk Telekom to launch converged services including VoBB (VoIP over Broadband), VCC (Voice Call Continuity), Converged One Number, Converge Centrex, UMS (Unified Message Service), MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service), MRBT (Multimedia Ring Back Tone) and NP (Number Portability).

Turk Telekom is the largest fixed line carrier in Turkey with over 5.8 million subscribers at the end of March 2010 and over 16.4 million fixed line voice customers. The company also controls Turkey’s smallest mobile operator, Avea, with 11.6 million subscribers at the end of March.