Business VoIP

The United Kingdom’s major, London-based communications provider today announced that it’s signed a contract to provide networking technology, including wide area network services, or “WAN,” to a German auto maker.

 

Officials from British Telecommunications, or “BT (News - Alert),” say they’re poised to equip a FIAT Group Automobiles Germany’s new corporate headquarters in Frankfurt with state-of –the-art telecom technology.

 

According to Stefan Hischer, managing director sales of BT Germany, the deal represents an opportunity to equip the new space with advanced network and IT solutions.

 

“This allowed us to contribute to the concept from the start and, for example, benefit from the synergies that are derived from the use of IP telephony,” Hischer said. “We are happy that this contract allows us to further strengthen our position as a partner for the automotive industry.”

 

BT officials say their company operates in 170 countries, primarily offering networked IT, telecommunications, broadband and Internet services.

 

One centerpiece of the new deal, BT says, will be establishing a connection to a multi-protocol label switching WAN that BT already operates for FIAT Group Automobiles Germany AG. Officials say that the Internet access includes a firewall and high-speed link to the BT data center in Frankfurt where the IP PBX (News - Alert) and the firewall are hosted “with the highest possible resilience.”

 

Generally speaking, a WAN computer network is one that covers a broad area, as opposed to a “LAN,” or local area network. In most cases, as in this one, WANs are used to connect LANs and other, smaller types of networks, so that users and computers in one location can communicate with those in others.

 

Specifics of the contract were not released. Yet the FIAT Group’s move is more than a simple technological upgrade.

 

Officials there say that by moving into the new flagship building on Frankfurt’s so-called “Auto Mile,” the company is consolidating two previously separate locations.

 

“In addition to administrative offices, the building also hosts training rooms as well as a showroom for the presentation of Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Lancia automobiles,” officials say.

 

The BT contract, in addition to setting up the WAN, includes installation and operation of LAN.

 

“A separate telephone network is not required since the company uses a Siemens (News - Alert) HiPath 8000 IP phone exchange, which allows the use of the data network also for voice communication,” company officials say. “The entire building is equipped with wireless network access, which is especially useful in the training and conference rooms.”