Staples Europe Selects BT as Its Primary European Network Services Provider

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- BT today announced a four-year networked IT services contract with Staples, the world's largest office products company serving businesses and consumers in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. The contract provides Staples with a cost-effective, highly resilient network connecting 325 offices and stores across seven European countries into a single, secure wide area network (WAN) environment.

Kevin Milliken, senior vice-president and head of Information Technology at Staples, Europe said: "We are working towards one single, European wide-area network connecting all our offices and stores across Europe. We chose BT as our primary European supplier because of their reliability, flexibility and ability to offer us a high-bandwidth, cost-effective wide area network – regardless of underlying technology or office location. Based on our track-record with BT, I am confident we have chosen the right network partner."

Edwin Hageman, CEO BT Benelux: "I am pleased to announce this contract with Staples. The pan-European scope of the services once again confirms our strength in delivering international networked IT services, wherever our customers want us to go. It also underlines the continued investment we're making in our network and services to offer our customers industry leading technology and support."

BT will be providing Staples with an intelligent IP Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) service, running on the global BT IP Connect platform, across the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. BT's IP Connect services enable customers to connect their operations in a fast and efficient way.

BT has more than 20 years' experience in designing, running and managing global IP networks for government organizations and leading multinational businesses. According to industry analyst firm IDC, BT is a clear leader in the global IP VPN market in terms of market share. Source: IDC International Market Model for BT, 2010. In November 2011, BT was voted 'Best Global Operator' for the second year running at the World Communication Awards.

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 Sterling 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.

Staples is the world's largest office products company and a trusted source for office solutions. The company provides products, services and expertise in office supplies, copy & print, technology, facilities and breakroom, and furniture. Staples invented the office superstore concept in 1986 and now has annual sales of $25 billion, ranking second in the world in eCommerce sales. With 90,000 associates worldwide, Staples operates in 26 countries throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia, making it easy for businesses of all sizes and consumers. The company is headquartered outside Boston. More information about Staples (Nasdaq: SPLS) is available at www.staples.com/media.

SOURCE BT