UK and European banking giant Lloyds TSB has
chosen IBM to assemble a voice and high-speed Internet network that connects
branches, call-centers and cash machines, the two companies confirmed.
IBM to provide network and VoIP services for the next seven years. The £500m
($970m) contract covers a converged network carrying voice, video and data
as well as 70,000 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones from Cisco.
IBM said it will install the new Lloyds infrastructure, using fibre cables,
in about 20 months, and add 70,000 telephone lines based on voice over
Internet Protocol (VoIP), a technique for making phone calls using the same
protocols that are at the heart of the Internet and corporate data networks.
By largely avoiding standard telephone networks, which are highly taxed,
companies can save considerable money. Once completed, the VoIP installation
will be among the largest in Europe, according to IBM.
The bank hopes that improved bandwidth will allow it to use application
previously regarded as too demanding for its network.
Vanco will provide the network management and integration expertise. Vtesse
Networks, an optical networking provider, is building a virtual private
network using high-fibre optical connections from various vendors.
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