BT Connect - New Ethernet Connect Services Improving Freedom to Innovate

IRVING, Texas, Nov. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- BT (NYSE: BT), one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services, today announced a new milestone in the evolution of its BT Connect portfolio, with the expansion of its Ethernet Connect services to 28 countries and the launch of international E-LAN services. Through the delivery of these services BT is enabling large private and public organizations to innovate with confidence in tough times.

Ethernet Connect is BT's adaptive high performance Ethernet VPN (virtual private network) service. It is designed for large organizations that require exclusive control over their IP architecture and the freedom to evolve their infrastructure and innovate in their own way.

Ethernet Connect is available in six new countries bringing the total to 28 countries, with additional countries covered through long lines.

Simultaneously, BT is now offering to its customers, across those same 28 countries, a new E-LAN service, dramatically increasing flexibility for organizations with ambitions to use Ethernet "any to any" connectivity between sites. It is used typically to connect sites and applications that have complex and rapidly changing network traffic patterns.

Ethernet Connect also allows customers to gain the benefits of both worlds by combining E-Line and E-LAN services, improving an organization's ability to retain control of the IP architecture and innovate. BT also differentiates itself by offering end-to-end service management to the customer premise as standard. This means faults are fixed faster.

According to Joel Stradling, principal analyst at Current Analysis, "BT can offer its clients a greater choice of data WAN end-to-end services. Customers increasingly need flexible bandwidth and high performance, and Ethernet fits the bill. BT can offer hybrid layer 2 Ethernet VPN plus IP/MPLS VPN service to help its enterprise clients achieve the best-fit solutions. With this extension into new countries and the launch of its E-LAN service BT is clearly improving its position in the global Ethernet market."

Further expansions of Ethernet Connect are planned with increased international coverage in the coming months.

Neil Sutton, VP Global Portfolio, BT Global Services, said: "BT Connect, our portfolio of network services, is now an even richer set of services that meet the different needs of our global customers, covering IP, Ethernet, Internet and application performance management. Our customers are looking for choice and flexibility to meet evolving needs. For those of our customers requiring specific services for specific needs or for those that require exclusive control of their IP architecture, Ethernet Connect is now a great global service. By extending the availability of that service to 28 countries and adding capabilities such as E-LAN, we are now offering a highly compelling solution in the market."

Ethernet Connect, including E-LAN service, is as of today available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Rep of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK and the United States.

Notes to editor:

BT operates a global network infrastructure with the ability to provide services in 197 countries and territories. BT takes a total network approach, global and local, integrating connectivity seamlessly to deliver improved business performance for our customers.  BT's 2.5bn pounds Sterling investment in super-fast fibre-based broadband will make the UK one of the best connected countries in the world. BT's powerful mix of highly available and reliable international network services such as Private Line Connect, IP Connect Global, Ethernet Connect Global, Internet Connect Global and Managed LAN combined with Connect Applications brings large organizations together with their employees, customers and the world. Access services are delivered through Ethernet, DSL, Hybrid VPN and Satellite. During the last financial year, BT has extended its Ethernet footprint in the UK to over 1,000 fiber Ethernet nodes, providing the country's largest Ethernet network. BT's Ethernet Connect Global service now covers 28 countries globally, with additional countries covered through long lines and further expansion planned in 2012.

More information and technical datasheets on http://www.globalservices.bt.com.

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 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, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was 20,076m pounds with profit before taxation of 1,717m pounds.

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.btplc.com.

SOURCE BT