Global Crossing Ltd. (NYSE: GX) has been awarded a significant expansion of its existing contract with the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to connect an additional 52 sites worldwide.
The expanded contract, which now represents all of the FCO's sovereign sites, provides for Global Crossing to create a global Internet Protocol-based Virtual Private Network (IP-VPN) connecting British Embassies and consulates around the world. The connection of the FCO's additional 52 sites will significantly raise the value of the contract over the initial $250 million announced last year by increasing the number of "on-net" sites within the total 240 sites connected.
The final service trial for voice delivery to the FCO's 17 U.S. sites was just successfully completed, enabling all of the organization's U.S. sites to use both managed voice and data services. The FCO's network provides high-speed voice, data and messaging services to over 11,000 users in British Embassies, consulates and high commissions worldwide.
The FCO project builds on Global Crossing's successful track record in providing communications solutions to government agencies, as well as multinational corporations and other telecommunications carriers. The company also provides the Royal Air Force (RAF) with managed messaging and directory services to some 55,000 users at 68 RAF sites, including overseas bases. Global Crossing was also recently selected as a preferred communications services provider for NATO and its affiliate countries.
The FCO project is also designed to provide the British Government with cost-effective connectivity that exploits the reach of Global Crossing's worldwide IP-based network and supports the growing volume of traffic generated by the Internet and the FCO's intranet. Bandwidth provided by the network will enable the FCO to update office automation systems used by diplomats and allow operating systems to be synchronized overnight, eliminating the need for Information Technology (IT) professionals to carry out these tasks on-site.
About Global Crossing:
Global Crossing Ltd. (NYSE:GX) provides telecommunications solutions an integrated global IP-based network. For more information, visit www.globalcrossing.com or www.asiaglobalcrossing.com.