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Equant and Akzo Nobel Sign Five-year, Multimillion Dollar Contract for IP VPN and Professional Services in 80 Countries

Announcement posted by Equant 28 Sep 2004

Akzo Nobel relies on Equant network solutions to reduce costs and improve network performance
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) has signed a five-year, multimillion dollar global network services contract with Akzo Nobel to design and implement an integrated global MPLS-based IP VPN solution.
This contract demonstrates Equants strategy to develop global, customised and integrated communications services, leveraging its high-end IP VPN strengths and reducing total cost of ownership for its multinational customers.
Headquartered in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Akzo Nobel is an international company active in the areas of pharmaceuticals, coatings and chemicals with operations in more than 80 countries and employing around 64,000 people.
Using Equant IP VPN, Akzo Nobel can maximise its communications infrastructure and optimise performance of business-critical applications such as SAP and Microsoft Exchange. Equant IP VPN will interconnect sites in 80 countries. Equant will also provide additional consultancy and project management services as well as Equant WebVision, a Web-based network performance monitoring tool.
The new IP VPN, MPLS-based solution replaces a number of Frame Relay networking solutions. By appointing one single supplier, Akzo Nobel underlines its new One Lane strategy. The aim of this strategy is to take a structured and coordinated approach for network design, security, change management, performance management and billing across all three business groups. By appointing Equant as prime contractor for communication infrastructure, Akzo Nobel expects to benefit from improved network performance and increased security, in addition to significant cost savings. Furthermore, the solution will provide Akzo Nobel with a uniform technology structure, which will enable the company to more efficiently adopt new technological developments in the future such as IP-based voice and video solutions.
A global, uniform networking solution brings us many advantages, said Bill Stubbins, CIO at Akzo Nobel. By working with one global supplier, network management will be simplified enormously. This gives us a better view of how our network is performing on a local and global basis, while helping us to reduce overall costs.
Akzo Nobel is among nearly 1,300 other companies that appreciate the benefits of IP VPN, said Philippe Koebel, Equants senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, Europe, Middle East and Africa. Companies are seeing that an IP VPN associated with Professional Services provides streamlined global infrastructure, while significantly reducing overall networking costs and offers the flexibility and security to adopt IP-based voice and video solutions in the future.
About Akzo Nobel
Akzo Nobel is an international company active in the areas of pharmaceuticals, coatings and chemicals. Based in Arnhem, the Netherlands, Akzo Nobel has operations in over 80 countries and employs around 64,000 people.
Akzo Nobel is divided in three business groups: Pharma, Coatings and Chemicals. The Pharma group manufactures products for both the human and animal healthcare markets, such as oral contraceptives, antidepressants, infertility treatments and veterinary vaccines. The Coatings group manufactures brands such as Sikkens, International, Crown and Interpon. Akzo Nobels coating products were used on Londons Millennium Wheel, La Scala Opera House in Milan, the resund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, Stadium Australia in Sydney and the Olympic stadium in Athens. Akzo Nobel is also one of the worlds leading chemicals producers and worlds leading salt specialists. It produces chemicals found in everyday items such as ice cream, toothpaste, bakery goods, cosmetics, plastics and glass. Sales in 2003 were EUR 13.1 billion, with Pharma accounting for EUR 3.5 billion, Coatings for EUR 5.2 billion and Chemicals for EUR 4.4 billion.
For more information, please visit the website: http://www.akzonobel.com.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognised industry leader in global communications services for multinational businesses. Equant combines its network expertise including unmatched seamless network reach in 220 countries and territories and local support in approximately 165 countries with its expanded services capabilities to provide global, integrated and customised communication services to enable its customers key business processes. Equant serves thousands of the worlds top companies, with the industrys most extensive portfolio of communications services and network solutions, including the market-leading IP VPN used by nearly 1,300 global businesses. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, was named Best Global Carrier 2003 and Best Managed Service 2003 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.