BT to link Kolkata with global IP network

Kolkata, Dec 8: The expanding wave of BPO units in Kolkata willsoon be able to avail of the full suite of global managed networkservices (voice, data and video) at competitive tariffs from Britishtelecom (BT).

BT India Head of Security Practice Paul M Bamford told UNI todaythat BT is poised to link Kolkata with its global IP (Internetprotocol) network that straddles across 130 countries round the globe.

Currently, BT's global IP network links Delhi, Mumbai andBangalore. BT has planned to connect Kolkata with its IP networkthrough its long-term strategic pact wth Sunil Mittal's Bharti Airtel.

''Under the agreement, Bharti Airtel offers BT co-locationinfrastructure along with Level-I maintenance, which include 24-hournetwork connectivity monitoring,'' Mr Bamford said.

BT's connectivity would enable BPO companies in the city and eastern region to avail the "managed" services, he added.

This project comes at a stage when the BPOs and other IT servicescompanies had been often complaining about unreliable and overpricedinternet connectivity which hinders their operations.

''Companies are on the lookout for reliable network and BT's IPnetwork is geared to do that for the city's IT and BPO firms,'' MrBamford said.

UNI