PARIS and SAN JOSE, Calif., May 30, 2008 - Cisco and Orange Business Services announced today that the two companies have embarked on a major network upgrade project to improve and extend Orange Business Services' international Internet Protocol virtual private network (IP VPN).
The project will help Orange Business Services bring new advanced services to multinational organizations on a global basis, expanding its portfolio of innovative collaboration solutions that combine voice, data and video to include Cisco Unified Communications and Cisco TelePresence for virtual 'in-person' meetings.
Cisco and Orange Business Services have collaborated over the past decade to develop a market-leading portfolio of IP VPN services based on Cisco® IP Next-Generation Network (IP NGN) architecture. This new phase of network development will introduce greater efficiencies through the convergence of multiple legacy networks into one end-to-end IP network and add new capabilities such as multicast VPN and IPv6 over MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS) at the network edge. The deployment of a new generation of Cisco IP NGN routing technology will bring Orange Business Services' international network even closer to its customers' locations to deliver consistent quality of experience in 220 countries and territories.
Barbara Dalibard, president and CEO, Orange Business Services, said: "We have enjoyed a long history of successful collaboration with Cisco. With Cisco's support, we deliver a world-class portfolio of managed voice, data and mobility solutions to multinational organizations. Our joint expertise will take Orange Business Services to the next level of service quality and creativity."
"Rich media and Web 2.0 are driving the next wave of business productivity," added Pankaj Patel, senior vice president for the Service Provider Technology Group at Cisco. "With the latest phase in the transformation of Orange Business Services' network, we are working together even more closely to offer an increasingly integrated set of services to Orange Business Services customers."
Orange Business Services achieved Cisco Global Certified Partner status in September 2007, the first service provider partner to reach this goal worldwide.
About Orange
Orange is the key brand of France Telecom, one of the world's leading telecommunications operators. France Telecom serves more than 172 million customers in five continents as of March 31, 2008, of which two thirds are Orange customers. The Group had consolidated sales of 52.9 billion euros in 2007 (13 billion euros at March 31, 2008). As of March 31, 2008, the Group had 111.9 million mobile customers and 12 million broadband internet (ADSL) customers.
Launched in June 2005, the NExT program (New Experience in Telecommunications) will enable the Group to pursue its transformation as an integrated operator and make France Telecom the benchmark for new telecommunications services in Europe. In 2006, Orange became the Group's single brand for Internet, television and mobile services in the majority of countries where the company operates, and Orange Business Services the banner for services offered to businesses worldwide. France Telecom is the number three mobile operator and the number one provider of broadband internet services in Europe and one of the world leaders in providing telecommunication services to multinational companies.
France Telecom (NYSE:FTE) is listed on Euronext Paris and on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more information : www.orange.com, www.francetelecom.com, www.orange-business.com
Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.
