Alcatel extends agreement with BT

BANGALORE, INDIA: Alcatel-Lucent, a provider in telecommunication services, recently announced that it has entered in to a seven-year extension of its partnership with BT, focused on the support of BT's global network operations.

The agreement is aimed at further enhancing the services delivered to BT Global Services' customers and at optimizing BT's non-UK non-IP network, said a press release.

The agreement stated that Alcatel-Lucent would manage most of the legacy networks serving BT Global Services' customers that would enable BT TO focus on its Global 21CN Platform in order to further improve the customer experience, speed up the delivery of new services and reduce cost and complexity.

The contract is built on the two companies' Multi-Vendor Managed Services contract signed in November 2006, it added.

"This contract will help us to better serve our customers. BT will be free to focus on its global 21st century platform, while Alcatel-Lucent can concentrate on further improving standards of service for those using our legacy networks," said Hanif Lalani, chief executive officer, BT Global Services.

He added that Alcatel-Lucent's innovative thinking and its experience in delivering best in class services and network management was widely recognized in the industry. BT expects to derive significant cost savings and accelerated network optimization over the lifetime of this contract.

"BT has offered us a complex challenge and we are excited to be expanding our trusted partner relationship. It draws on our strengths as a global services player, ready to partner with its customers in their business transformation programmes," said Andy Williams, president, Alcatel-Lucent's Services business activities.

He commented that BT has given them an opportunity to demonstrate their leadership in network transformation, managed network services.

During the first phase of the project Alcatel-Lucent would assume operations for five legacy global and domestic networks in 27 countries outside the UK, along with the BT Global Managed Platform legacy transport network, the release added.