Cable&Wireless signs 100 Mn pound contract with Tesco

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 30 May 2008, 02:04 IST
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Bangalore: Cable &Wireless has announced it has signed a five-year 100 million pound partnership contract with Tesco, online retail major, to create a new next generation telecommunications network for the retail group's international and UK operations. Cable&Wireless will become the exclusive supplier of data, fixed and mobile voice telecommunications to Tesco in the UK, streamlining the group?s existing systems into a single, efficient IP network, based on next generation platforms. This network will have 40 times the capacity of Tesco?s current network and will be built on Cable&Wireless' Multi Service Platform (MSP). The network will bring together all of Tesco?s existing UK communication infrastructure, connecting more than 1800 Tesco sites including stores, regional offices and distribution centers. Internationally, the network will directly connect Tesco?s operations in 14 separate countries including China, India, Japan, the USA, Republic of Ireland and Turkey connecting over 400,000 people. Cable&Wireless will implement a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) platform on the network, which will significantly reduce Tesco?s voice and data call costs, as well as enabling the introduction of a Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) solution for Tesco employees. FMC, a service offered exclusively by Cable&Wireless in the UK, will enable Tesco staff to use their existing mobile phone for all calls - operating as a fixed line phone in the office, and roaming on to a mobile network when outside. The service will better equip Tesco's 'mobile' employees, such as logistics staff, as well as significantly reducing its call and equipment costs. The MSP-powered network will also allow Tesco's management to consider a range of communication tools to improve operations and add to the customer experience.