BT to deliver global network services to NATO

BT today announced a contract with NATO’s Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A), which is responsible for delivering technology in support of NATO’s global operations. The contract provides NATO with a communications network, connecting more than 70 locations, spread across the NATO nations and the Balkans. The five-year agreement is valued at €47 million.

The deal supports NATO’s journey to a more flexible, future-proof infrastructure. It includes the migration of NATO’s existing backbone to BT Ethernet Connect. Ethernet Connect is an intelligent network designed for large organisations that require exclusive control over their IP architecture and want the freedom to evolve their infrastructure in their own way. NATO will also benefit from Ethernet Connect E-LINE services, which provides protected bandwidth for mission-critical applications between sites.

Ethernet Connect will lay the foundation for a highly-secure wide area network (WAN) in support of NATO’s missions and decision-makers around the world. BT will also supply the NC3A-organisation with the hardware to accomplish this.

Georges D’hollander, General Manager at NC3A, said: “Information - and the ability to share it rapidly across a coalition - plays a paramount role in 21st century operations, as well as political decision-making.  To underpin this we need a flexible, future-proof network. BT has, over the years, developed an in-depth understanding of the specific challenges we face. Their BT Connect portfolio is particularly well designed to support our communications needs.”

Luis Alvarez, President EMEA and Latin America BT Global Services, said: “We are proud that NATO has chosen our Ethernet Connect solution to support their technological evolution. It is a great recognition that NATO has selected BT as communications provider. We have been successfully working with NATO over the recent years and look forward to the future of our relationship.”

BT Ethernet Connect is part of BT Connect, BT’s innovative portfolio of intelligent networking solutions. BT Connect fully leverages BT’s global network, including Ethernet VPN services in 28 countries, growing to over 33 in 2012 and investments across the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. BT Connect has the ability to deliver services in 197 countries and territories and it provides speeds of anything from 64k-320Gbps in the UK and 64k-1Gbps globally with future plans for even faster access.