BT Global outsources network support to Alcatel-Lucent for $US350m

.: Acorn Networks :. Just days after its formation Alcatel-Lucent has announced its first major contract: a $US350 million contract to take over responsibility for the maintenance of BT Global Services' global network for the next eight years.
Alcatel-Lucent’s Services will assume responsibility for the majority of BT Global Services’ equipment maintenance and spares management contracts. The contract covers first line maintenance, second, third and fourth line support. BT say it expects to derive cost savings in excess of $US100 million over the lifetime of the contract.
“By moving to a single-point-of-contact supplier, we will be able to benefit from having one primary interface for support services rather than having to manage a large number of service vendors, while service level agreements will remain at the current high level, or be improved where needed," said Roel Louwhoff, president of customer service and network operation in BT Global Services.