Virgin Mediahas signed a £98m
fixed-line voice network management contract with BT to cut its
overall communications costs to supply customers.
Under the terms of the deal, BT Wholesale will manage the
operation and maintenance of
Virgin Media's UK fixed-line voice switching network, as well
as a number of Virgin Media's existing support contracts with
third-party hardware and software suppliers for transmission
equipment on its behalf.
Virgin Media's fixed-line voice switching network supports
around 20% of all landline telephone connections in the UK, said
BT. More than 180 Virgin Media employees have transferred to BT
Wholesale as part of the agreement.
Paul Weir, managing director of networks for Virgin Media, said,
"Our telephony switching network remains an important asset within
Virgin Media, and by using BT Wholesale we gain operational cost
efficiencies ahead of the network's eventual upgrade to voice over
IP technology, whilst keeping guaranteed levels of service for our
customers."