BT and Tata Communications Sign Global Strategic Voice Services Agreement

By Prne, Gaea News Network
Wednesday, June 24, 2009

MUMBAI, India - BT Group and Tata Communications Ltd., have signed a major voice services agreement that will allow two of the world’s largest providers of voice and IP services to mutually benefit from shared resources as part of a global supply arrangement.

Through the five-year agreement, Tata Communications will become BT’s primary supplier of International Direct Dial (IDD) and other voice termination services outside BT’s own footprint countries and BT will become Tata Communication’s main distribution channel for its IDD traffic into the UK, expanding into other markets across Europe as the relationship matures.

By providing each party with access to additional capacity and flexibility, the relationship will allow BT and Tata Communications to benefit from each others’ strengths as they develop and grow their businesses in their respective markets.

Brian Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of BT Wholesale Markets, said: “Tata Communications is a leader in the international wholesale voice business, making them a perfect partner to help us achieve additional economies of scale to those of our own. We look forward to maximising the opportunities this relationship presents to both organisations as we expand our portfolio of wholesale products and services and ultimately strive to become even more competitive with our pricing.”

Michel Guyot, President of Global Voice Solutions, Tata Communications, said: “We are proud to become BT’s primary supplier of international voice termination services. The agreement will increase both partners’ competitiveness and will enhance our respective service offerings. We are also very excited to have BT as our main distribution channel in the UK as we are confident that BT’s resources and strong knowledge of the European market will be of great benefit to Tata Communications.”

The relationship will allow BT and Tata Communications to benefit from their respective extensive global networks and advantageous cost structures. BT will also have access to Tata Communications’ world-class routing capabilities and on-line management systems providing greater economies of scale that will improve BT’s competitiveness in the international calls market.

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2009, BT Group’s revenue was GBP21,390 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt

About Tata Communications

Tata Communications is a leading global provider of a new world of communications. With a leadership position in emerging markets, Tata Communications leverages its advanced solutions capabilities and domain expertise across its global and pan-India network to deliver managed solutions to multi-national enterprises, service providers and Indian consumers.

The Tata Global Network includes one of the most advanced and largest submarine cable networks, a Tier-1 IP network, with connectivity to more than 200 countries across 400 PoPs, and nearly 1 million square feet of data center and collocation space worldwide.

Tata Communications’ depth and breadth of reach in emerging markets includes leadership in Indian enterprise data services, leadership in global international voice, and strategic investments in operators in South Africa (Neotel), Sri Lanka (Tata Communications Lanka Limited), Nepal (United Telecom Limited), and subject to approval by the Chinese government, China (China Enterprise Communications)

Tata Communications Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange of India and its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. (NYSE: TCL)

www.tatacommunications.com

Notes to Editors

For further information

Please contact the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: +44(0)20-7356-5369. From outside the UK, dial +44-20-7356-5369. All BT Group news releases can be accessed at our web site: www.bt.com/newscentre.

Tata Communications media contacts: Katherine Roux-Groleau Tata Communications +1-514-998-8540 krouxgroleau@casacom.ca Janice Goveas Tata Communications +91-92233-94575 Janice.Goveas@tatacommunications.com David Chin Hill & Knowlton +65-6390-3347 David.chin@hillknowlton.com.sg

Source: Tata Communications Limited

For further information please contact the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: +44(0)20-7356-5369. From outside the UK, dial +44-20-7356-5369. Tata Communications media contacts: Katherine Roux-Groleau, Tata Communications, +1-514-998-8540, krouxgroleau at casacom.ca; Janice Goveas, Tata Communications, +91-92233-94575, Janice.Goveas at tatacommunications.com; David Chin, Hill & Knowlton, +65-6390-3347, David.chin at hillknowlton.com.sg

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