August 18, 2004 – Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) and its channel partner Jordan Data Communications (JDC) has signed a three-year, $7 million IP VPN contract with Amman, Jordan-based Arab Bank Group to link 19 international sites. This contract was made possible through JDC’s long-standing relationship with its customer Arab Bank. In addition, this contract demonstrates Equant’s ambition to expand its global presence and increase its market reach by growing its geographical presence and increasing indirect sales.
With more than 400 branches and offices on five continents, the Arab Bank Group is one of the principal financial institutions in the Arab world and ranks among the leading international banks in terms of equity, earnings and assets. In an effort to meet its growing international business requirements, Arab Bank launched a request for proposal seeking a flexible, reliable and highly available and secure private network that would combine data and voice for its international sites.
JDC and Equant conducted a four-month consultancy project with Arab Bank at four sites – Amman, Dubai, London and Paris – in order to understand the customer’s requirements, from the LAN to the WAN, and to demonstrate the benefits of migration to MPLS-based IP VPN technology when answering the request for proposal. Arab Bank found that the best solution is to upgrade its 14 frame relay sites to a 19-site fully managed MPLS-based IP VPN with Equant Voice for IP VPN at 12 voice deregulated sites. “The strong Equant image in the corporate communications business, as well as its MPLS classes of service, and Equant’s unique presence in the Middle East through partnerships were all key differentiators,” said Majed A. Rahim, head of Information Technology, Arab Bank Group.
The key benefits of IP VPN for Arab Bank are:
- Geographic reach: Equant IP VPN provides any-to-any communications and is available in 150 countries and territories allowing Arab Bank to offer the same services in all countries where it is present.
- Convergence capabilities: Connecting all 19 international sites will bring Arab Bank the advantage of IP convergence, including having all types of traffic including voice on the same infrastructure.
- Traffic prioritization: Equant’s MPLS-based IP VPN solution with five classes of service enables Arab Bank to prioritize voice and video traffic, its mission-critical applications, as well as Internet and intranet browsing. This prioritization will accommodate and optimize all types of applications for Arab Bank.
- Reliability: The contract includes a very strong service level agreement per country that will ensure the service is delivered by Equant on time, available when the bank needs it and restored quickly if something unexpected occurs.
- Security: The network is based on industry-leading Multi-protocol Label Switching technology which provides a high security level that is similar to frame relay and ATM.
“We are pleased to welcome Arab Bank not only as a new IP VPN customer but also as a valued customer in the Middle East,” said Philippe Koebel, Equant’s senior vice president of Sales and Marketing, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This success was made possible due to Equant’s unique knowledge and presence in the Middle East. Equant has established long-standing relationships with various partners and PTTs in this sub-region that has enabled JDC to successfully offer virtual private network services to Arab Bank.”
Equant has established partnerships in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan. Equant is currently working to expand within the region and developing business with various partners and PTTs, providing them with access to its expertise and technology and more than 50 years of proven experience in building and operating secure and reliable state-of-the-art networks.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Arab Bank Group
The Arab Bank Group (www.arabbank.com), with total assets of $24.5 billion as at end of 2003, is one of the principal financial institutions in the Arab World and ranks among the leading international banks in terms of equity, earnings and assets. The Arab Bank Group, which was established in Jerusalem in 1930, today has a worldwide-diversified network, through a presence in virtually every Arab country and a global network of more than 400 branches, subsidiaries, and affiliates on five continents. The growth of the Arab Bank has come against a background of both regional, political turbulence and spectacular growth and development. At all times its reliance on prudent management and integrity combined with its persistence and tenacity have kept it strong and given it a unique reputation and identity within the Arab World and beyond.
About Jordan Data Communications (JDC)
JDC, formerly Global One Jordan, was established in 1996, as the first Internet and data service provider in Jordan. In 2001 Jordan Telecom (the incumbent in Jordan and 35.2 percent owned by France Telecom) acquired JDC, thus adding it to its Group companies, which include MobileCom and e-Dimension. In 2001 the two international companies, Global One and Equant, merged thus forming the largest international data communication services provider. JDC has become the only distributor for Equant services in Jordan and is fully owned by Jordan Telecom.
Through its partnerships with France Telecom, Wanadoo and Equant, JDC is empowered with the most advanced technologies and up-to-date know-how, enabling it to remain the leader in internet and data communications services locally in Jordan, whilst allowing it to expand regionally at a fast pace.
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognized industry leader in global communications services for multinational businesses. Equant combines its network expertise – including unmatched seamless network reach in 220 countries and territories and local support in approximately 165 countries – with its expanded services capabilities to provide global, integrated and customized communication services to enable its customers key business processes. Equant serves thousands of the world’s top companies, with the industry’s most extensive portfolio of communications services and network solutions, including the market-leading IP VPN used by nearly 1,300 global businesses. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, was named Best Global Carrier 2003 and Best Managed Service 2003 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
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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 the documents filed by Equant with the SEC, specifically the most recent filing on Form 20-F, which identifies 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 industry, the fact that the interests of France Telecom, Equant’s largest shareholder, may differ from the interests of Equant’s other shareholders, changing technology, uncertain and changing regulatory restrictions, currency fluctuations, dependence on suppliers, network security issues, intense competition, in Equant’s industry, and volatility of Equant’s stock price. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Equant on the date hereof, and Equant assumes no obligation to update such statements.
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