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Top Japanese credit card company selects Equant to implement Global IP VPN solution

Announcement posted by Equant 06 Aug 2003

CB expands its 10-year relationship with Equant based on Equant's outstanding track record and excellent quality of service
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU), a recognised industry leader in global IP and data service for multinational businesses, has signed a three-year contract to build an MPLS-based IP VPN for JCB to connect 32 locations around the world. An Equant customer for more than 10 years, JCB is the No. 1 credit card company in Japan, targeting the travel and entertainment market, and one of the major international credit card brands. JCB developed an international merchant base in 1981 and continues to issue credit cards throughout Europe, Asia and North America, and is aggressively expanding its presence worldwide.
Equant's expertise in the financial marketplace builds on a customer base that includes more than 50 percent of the Fortune 100 Financial Services companies. This depth of experience has enabled Equant to develop a consultative-led approach to addressing the business needs of its financial services customers.
To improve communications and customer authentication processes, JCB needed a secure, cost-effective solution that would provide:
Seamless communications from desktop-to-desktop.
Network architecture that would offer optimal flexibility.
A long-term platform for its growth-oriented business model.
Global, secure access to applications such as Lotus Notes and IBM legacy architecture.
Efficient access to proprietary customer information and transaction records.
JCB employees in the various markets need access to data from JCB headquarters in Tokyo to process credit authorisations.
Working with JCB, Equant Professional Services consultants will design and manage the migration of JCB from its X.25 and frame relay network to an IP VPN. In addition, Equant consultants will assist in the implementation of a wireless LAN (WLAN) system that will allow JCB employees to access e-mail wirelessly, allowing them to be mobile at the workplace. Equant Frame Relay will still be used by JCB for extranet communications with its partners and merchants, and Equant global network management centres will continue to monitor the entire network around the clock.
Hiroaki Suwabe, manager of JCB International Systems Planning, said: "We have worked with Equant for a long time, and they have always impressed us with their quality of service delivery. When we first discussed creating a platform for any-to-any communications, Equant presented us a customised solution that met our current requirements and allowed for future expansion. With this new service, we are able to run our business more efficiently, while enjoying the benefits of having a single provider support our communications needs."
David Nishball, Equant's senior vice president, Markets and Sales, Asia Pacific Australasia, added: "For companies like JCB, that need for instant access to customer information to support millions of daily transactions, a seamless and robust network is key to business success. Equant's long experience with JCB and other leading financial services customers has helped hone our responsiveness to their business needs. With one of the industry's most comprehensive IP VPN offerings, Equant is pleased to support our long-term partner in its growth plans."
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 800 global businesses as of May 13, 2003. Equant, a member of the France Telecom Group, was named Best Global Carrier 2002 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About JCB
Since its establishment in 1961, JCB is recognised as the leading payments organisation in the Japanese credit card industry, with over 48 million card-members worldwide. JCB's international issuance and merchant acquisition program has attracted as partners many of the world's most reputable financial institutions; today the JCB card is accepted at 10,930,000 associated merchants and support by more than 320 financial institutions worldwide. More information about JCB may be found at www.jcbinternational.com
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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 thedocuments filed by Equant with the SEC, specifically the most recent filing on SEC Form 20-F, 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 Equant's history of operating losses, the unpredictability of growth in Equant's markets, Equant's rapid growth, changing technology, uncertain and changing regulatory restrictions, Equant's international operations, dependence on suppliers, network security issues, competition, and volatility of Equant's 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.