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European Space Agency Signs US$1.5 million Voice For IP VPN Deal With Equant

Announcement posted by Equant 26 Feb 2002

ESA joins more than 50 other major customers to migrate from switched voice to Equants converged IP voice solution
The European Space Agency (ESA) has signed a US$1.5 million contract for Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) Voice for IP VPN services. The deal extends the scope of the three-year, US$6 million Equant IP VPN contract ESA signed last year, covering ESAs 32 sites worldwide.

Under the contract extension, Equant will provide ESA with PBX interconnection for high-quality voice and fax on-net calling in nearly 60 countries and off-net calling to 240 countries and territories. It also includes videoconferencing capabilities between ESAs five main European sites in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain.

With Equant Voice for IP VPN, ESA will enjoy the benefits of voice calling with quality equivalent to that of switched voice and the cost advantages of integrated voice, data and IP traffic over a single, high-speed network. In the wake of recent security concerns, IP-based videoconferencing will allow ESA executives to communicate effectively face-to-face and, at the same time, will reduce the need for expensive travel. ESA has already been leveraging Equant IP VPN services for secure data and IP transmissions of information on ESA space missions, remote detection applications, and Earth
Remote Sensing, among others.

We are anxious to add voice and videoconferencing capabilities to our customized Equant IP VPN network, which offers top-level performance and security, said Michael Tabbert, head of the ESAs IT Infrastructure Division. The network is helping to increase our administrative efficiency. In addition, the high-speed Internet capabilities are important to our outreach program by providing the public easy access to a vast array of information about our mission.

We are pleased to help support ESA with a state-of-the-art IP VPN solution that is contributing to improved performance of its data and IP applications, said Michel Picaud, head of Equants Central & Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region. Now, with Voice for IP VPN, ESA can realize cost savings and greater efficiency by eliminating the former separate voice and data circuits.

Remote dial access in more than 130 countries and territories is a key feature of the ESA customized solution. This feature is especially useful because of the Agencys need for reliable connectivity in difficult-to-reach areas, such as Kazakstan, where some ESA launches take place. High-quality Internet access is also fundamental to ESA in its role of guiding and coordinating space programs in Europe. Equant IP Direct, for instance, supports ESA in organizing open bids aimed at other sectors and communicating with partners, which may be companies or other space organizations.

By integrating our voice, video, IP and data networks through Equant IP VPN, we have a more efficient infrastructure for bringing ESA closer to the space industry and all other users of our programs, said Stefano Zatti and Marco Incollingo of the ESA IT System Section. With the help of Equant IP VPN, we can exploit technology to optimize our strategies. Dialogue with Equant is daily, and relations with the Equant team handling the ESA account are extremely close.

About Equant Voice for IP VPN

Equant Voice for IP VPN lets customers integrate their voice and data traffic over a single IP connection on the Equant IP VPN service. Customers can improve the performance of their voice and data applications by dynamically sharing bandwidth. Through the elimination of separate voice and data circuits, CPE and toll avoidance, customers can also realize cost savings, allowing them to justify adding smaller locations to the network. The service provides enterprises with quality voice and fax on-net calling in nearly 60 countries and territories and off-net calling to 240 countries and territories. Voice Quality of Service (QoS) is substantiated through voice-specific SLAs. Through detailed usage reporting, customers gain greater control by being able to manage their costs.

About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognized industry leader in global IP and data services for multinational businesses, offering network, integration and managed services to global business. The network has
unmatched seamless global reach, connecting key business centers in 220 countries and territories, with local support in 145 countries and territories. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the worlds top companies. Equant, a member of the France Telecom Group, meets the diverse needs of
global companies with the industrys most extensive portfolio of managed data network services. Equants 2001 revenues, on a pro forma basis, were more than $3 billion.
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This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements related to Equant that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future results or events. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Equant with the SEC, specifically the most recent filing on Form 20-F and the submission on Form 6-K containing the shareholders circular, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, risks relating to Equants history of operating losses, the unpredictability of growth in Equants markets, Equant s rapid growth, changing technology, uncertain and changing regulatory restrictions, Equants international operations, dependence on suppliers, network security issues, competition, and volatility of Equants stock price and risks relating to the combination with Global One. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Equant on the date hereof, and Equant assumes no obligation to update such statements.