Asia's leading feeder and liner operator looks to Equant for new IP VPN
Announcement posted by Equant 09 Oct 2003
RCL links 12 Asia-Pacific sites with a customised solution
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU), recognised industry leader in global IP and data services for multinational businesses, has expanded its relationship with RCL, the shipping and transportation group, through a two-year, US$1 million-plus IP VPN contract, including Private Dial Services.
RCL, one of Asia's top feeder and liner operators, owns and operates 36 container vessels serving more than 70 destinations in Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. The company, which is continually looking to expand its feeder services and container liner business in Asia, upgraded its existing frame relay network to Equant MPLS-based IP VPN to exploit the latest technologies for its growing business requirements.
RCL has been an Equant customer since 1997 and chose to renew its contract because of Equant's unique capabilities in meeting the communications needs of the shipping industry. Equant today serves 18 of the top 20 global container carriers and more than 100 shipping-related companies with thousands of sites in more than 176 countries.
"The secure and timely delivery of cargo documents, online information about cargo vessel positions and the ability to provide accurate status updates to customers and ports-of-call are critical to our business success," said Margaret Lau, senior vice president for Group IT and HR, RCL Feeder Pte Ltd. "In our years of working with Equant, they have consistently delivered on their promise of service and reliability, and have been a highly flexible partner. Equant's strong consultative-led approach and its extensive experience in the shipping sector led to an optimal IP VPN for us."
To support its business initiatives, RCL required a partner that could:
Build a customised IP VPN to connect 12 major RCL sites across Asia Pacific.
Provide round-the-clock network monitoring and service level agreements based on classes of service.
Enable cost effective voice services.
Under the contract, Equant connected RCL's headquarters in Bangkok and its operational headquarters in Singapore to Brisbane, Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manila, Penang, Port Klang and Jakarta.
In addition, Equant's team of professional services consultants and project managers ensured that a seamless migration from frame relay to the new platform was completed successfully on time, within budget and to specification.
Because of traffic prioritisation capabilities with Equant's IP VPN, RCL agencies can now experience better performance for their IT applications and information exchange than before. Equant's IP VPN's offers five classes of service to facilitate performance fine-tuning of mission-critical IT applications. Using the same Equant IP VPN network, employees also enjoy high-quality voice communications between RCL offices. The company is looking to expand this network to other RCL agencies in the near future.
David Nishball, Equant's senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific, said: "Equant's unique experience in the transportation industry, together with the cost and performance advantages of our IP VPN, will help RCL gain competitive advantage. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with RCL in this region and look forward to building an even stronger relationship."
In addition to RCL, Equant currently provides service to shipping companies such as P&O Nedlloyd, APL and APL Logistics, China Shipping and K Line.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognised industry leader in global data and IP network and integration services for multinational businesses. The Equant network has unmatched seamless reach, connecting key business centres in 220 countries and territories, with local support in more than 165 countries. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the world's top companies with the industry's most extensive portfolio of managed network services, including the market-leading IP VPN used by more than 900 global businesses as of June 30, 2003. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, was named Best Global Carrier 2002 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About RCL
RCL is a leading Intra-Asia container shipping line, providing services in more than 70 destinations in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Basically, RCL serves two main customer groups, namely, the SOC (shipper own container) customers and the COC (carrier own container) customers. SOC customers are the main line operators (MLOs) using RCL frequent connection services at regional shipping hubs to tranship cargoes to their final destination port. COC customers are direct shippers and forwarding agents with business operations in the region. Currently, RCL operates a fleet of 36 container vessels comprising of both owned and chartered tonnage to support its business operations
RCL, one of Asia's top feeder and liner operators, owns and operates 36 container vessels serving more than 70 destinations in Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. The company, which is continually looking to expand its feeder services and container liner business in Asia, upgraded its existing frame relay network to Equant MPLS-based IP VPN to exploit the latest technologies for its growing business requirements.
RCL has been an Equant customer since 1997 and chose to renew its contract because of Equant's unique capabilities in meeting the communications needs of the shipping industry. Equant today serves 18 of the top 20 global container carriers and more than 100 shipping-related companies with thousands of sites in more than 176 countries.
"The secure and timely delivery of cargo documents, online information about cargo vessel positions and the ability to provide accurate status updates to customers and ports-of-call are critical to our business success," said Margaret Lau, senior vice president for Group IT and HR, RCL Feeder Pte Ltd. "In our years of working with Equant, they have consistently delivered on their promise of service and reliability, and have been a highly flexible partner. Equant's strong consultative-led approach and its extensive experience in the shipping sector led to an optimal IP VPN for us."
To support its business initiatives, RCL required a partner that could:
Build a customised IP VPN to connect 12 major RCL sites across Asia Pacific.
Provide round-the-clock network monitoring and service level agreements based on classes of service.
Enable cost effective voice services.
Under the contract, Equant connected RCL's headquarters in Bangkok and its operational headquarters in Singapore to Brisbane, Fremantle, Sydney, Melbourne, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Manila, Penang, Port Klang and Jakarta.
In addition, Equant's team of professional services consultants and project managers ensured that a seamless migration from frame relay to the new platform was completed successfully on time, within budget and to specification.
Because of traffic prioritisation capabilities with Equant's IP VPN, RCL agencies can now experience better performance for their IT applications and information exchange than before. Equant's IP VPN's offers five classes of service to facilitate performance fine-tuning of mission-critical IT applications. Using the same Equant IP VPN network, employees also enjoy high-quality voice communications between RCL offices. The company is looking to expand this network to other RCL agencies in the near future.
David Nishball, Equant's senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Asia Pacific, said: "Equant's unique experience in the transportation industry, together with the cost and performance advantages of our IP VPN, will help RCL gain competitive advantage. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with RCL in this region and look forward to building an even stronger relationship."
In addition to RCL, Equant currently provides service to shipping companies such as P&O Nedlloyd, APL and APL Logistics, China Shipping and K Line.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognised industry leader in global data and IP network and integration services for multinational businesses. The Equant network has unmatched seamless reach, connecting key business centres in 220 countries and territories, with local support in more than 165 countries. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the world's top companies with the industry's most extensive portfolio of managed network services, including the market-leading IP VPN used by more than 900 global businesses as of June 30, 2003. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, was named Best Global Carrier 2002 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About RCL
RCL is a leading Intra-Asia container shipping line, providing services in more than 70 destinations in Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Basically, RCL serves two main customer groups, namely, the SOC (shipper own container) customers and the COC (carrier own container) customers. SOC customers are the main line operators (MLOs) using RCL frequent connection services at regional shipping hubs to tranship cargoes to their final destination port. COC customers are direct shippers and forwarding agents with business operations in the region. Currently, RCL operates a fleet of 36 container vessels comprising of both owned and chartered tonnage to support its business operations