• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Nexans, Worldwide Leader in the Cable Industry, Selects AT&T as Global Communications Provider

Posted on: Wednesday, 17 December 2003, 06:00 CST

PARIS, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Nexans -- the worldwide leader in the cable industry* -- has appointed AT&T as its global communications provider in a three-year deal with an option to extend the period to up to 5 years. AT&T is supporting the company with the provision of a global IP based virtual private network (IP VPN) to provide connectivity to Nexans 17,000 employees in 28 countries through the use of the AT&T Global Network (AGN).

The Nexans wide area network (WAN) uses the latest multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) technology from AT&T, which enables the cable manufacturer to prioritise the types of data traffic using its infrastructure using 'class of service' features. This means for example, that high priority business-wide enterprise applications such as ERP can take priority over other data such as Internet or electronic mail.

117 Nexans sites worldwide are connected to the network with 7,500 Internet users. 1000 mobile users and 400 broadband high-speed connections are supported with AT&T remote access technology, including managed ADSL access.

The AT&T solution is underpinned by the AGN, AT&T's worldwide communications infrastructure in which the company has invested in significantly during 2002 and 2003 (including $300m in 2002 alone). The AGN is currently available over 47 countries and in over 130 cities outside the United States. AT&T's remote access service is available in 143 countries through 4,300 points-of-presence.

Nexans was previously part of Alcatel, the French telecommunications equipment manufacturer and was spun-off as a separate company in June 2001. As an independent company it needed to develop its own IT and communications infrastructure and needed a supplier with extensive global reach and who could rollout a state-of-the-art architecture rapidly as they migrated off their existing Alcatel based network.

AT&T was selected, as it was able to implement quickly and cost effectively a truly global and scalable infrastructure against a tight timetable and a demanding technical specification.

"As a newly independent company, but one of considerable size and operating internationally, we had a demanding specification," said Yves Trezieres, CIO for Nexans. "We had to have a supplier that could act quickly and manage a complex multi-site migration in 28 countries, to a tight deadline and deliver a truly global, flexible and integrated network. For Nexans, our communications infrastructure is a strategic asset and a vital tool to ensuring we operate at optimum levels of efficiency. AT&T with its global reach and industry-leading infrastructure was the ideal partner to meet our needs. They were able to deliver a better network which significantly reduced our costs, an important priority in today's competitive environment."

"Nexans was a challenging opportunity," commented Bill Archer, AT&T's President for Europe, the Middle East & Africa, "but one that we were more than able and equipped to meet. Our robust product portfolio, global reach and ability to execute rapidly to meet Nexans needs were the keys to our success."

Nexans' IP VPN is complemented by the provision of AT&T's Internet secured access with two hosted managed firewall services in France and the USA, Remote Access Services, and a broadband Internet Virtual Gateway.

* Based on world-wide sales

About Nexans

Nexans is the worldwide leader in the cable industry. The Group brings an extensive range of advanced copper and optical fiber cable solutions to the infrastructure, industry and building markets. Nexans cables and cabling systems can be found in every area of people's lives, from telecommunications and energy networks, to aeronautics, aerospace, automobile, railways, building, petrochemical, medical applications, etc. With an industrial presence in 28 countries and commercial activities in 65 countries, Nexans employs 17,150 people and had sales in 2002 of euros 4.3 billion. Nexans is listed on the Paris stock exchange. More information on http://www.nexans.com/

About AT&T:

For more than 125 years, AT&T (NYSE "T") has been known for unparalleled quality and reliability in communications. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company is a global leader in local, long distance, Internet and transaction-based voice and data services.

Safe Harbour:

The foregoing contains "forward-looking statements" which are based on management's beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by and information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside AT&T's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is presented solely to provide additional information to further understand the results of AT&T.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/ATT )

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19991018/ATT

AT&T

CONTACT: Niall Hickey, Director of Communications, EMEA of AT&T,+44-207-663-5076 (office), or +44-771-577-1451 (mobile), nhickey@emea.att.com

Web site: http://www.att.com/

More News in this Category