January 8, 2008 - BT and Cisco today announced one of the largest deployments of IP telephony in the education field in a multi-million pound deal with the University of Cambridge.

The project will see BT, Cisco, and the University's IT Consultancy partner, PTS Consulting, deliver approximately 20,000 IP telephony handsets to the University over the next 18 months, replacing the existing system.

The University's investment will modernise the student experience, enabling students to collaborate in new and more innovative ways through the deployment of a converged voice, video and data network. Sharing information more easily will improve the quality of education and research, with students and academics using instant messaging, voice emails, streaming video and much more to share ideas in real time, from anywhere in the world.

Dr Ian Lewis, Director, University Computing Service, University of Cambridge. said: "As one of the world's leading universities, Cambridge is keen to attract and retain the very best students and researchers. Part of that involves providing thoroughly modern facilities that reflect our forward-looking relationship with technology."

John Dovey, VP, BT iNet, said: "This is a unique and ground-breaking deal in education which was secured against tough competition. It is the largest deployment of its kind in the sector and will provide students and staff with a communication system fit for the challenges of the 21st century."

Scot Gardner, public sector operations director, Cisco UK & Ireland, said: "By embracing Cisco's Connected Learning vision, through this project the University of Cambridge is aiming to transform the way students, academics and administrators collaborate and ensure the University remains a globally-focused, student-centric institution well into the future."

Simon Robinson, PTS Consulting Project Director commented: "The IP migration at the University of Cambridge is a complex project that must meet the communications requirements of 17,000 users spread over 200 institutions. Having guided the University through the solution procurement, we are looking forward to the challenges of rolling out the new IP-enabled telephony platform."

The University of Cambridge is BT's long-established strategic partner as part of the company's open approach to innovation. Through this relationship BT works with many of the best academic minds in the world on cutting edge research addressing the medium and longer-term critical needs of BT and its customers.

Notes to Editors

Cisco, the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, is providing a telephony system to the University of Cambridge incorporating Cisco Unified Communications Manager 6.0 and 20,000 IP phones. The technology will allow students and staff to collaborate and communicate more innovatively and effectively, using a converged voice, video and data network which will improve the education experience delivered by the University.

About BT

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services; local, national and international telecommunications services; higher-value broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2007, BT Group plc's revenue was £20,223 million with profit before taxation of £2,484 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group 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.bt.com/aboutbt

About BT iNet

BT iNet is the leading provider of Cisco-based LAN & IPT solutions, applications and Managed Services that helps you profit from convergence via tailored LAN-centric IT services. The experience, flexibility and responsiveness of our organization, and our focus on understanding your business, enable us to design and deliver truly integrated IT services, so that you can maximize the efficiencies and cost savings that convergence brings to business for today and tomorrow. As a subsidiary of BT, we can offer significant support, including field resource and remote management capabilities to enhance your corporate networks. For further information: www.bt.com/btinet