Tesco has signed a £100 million deal with Cable and Wireless to
build a data and voice network that will connect its UK and
international offices.
The network will bring together all of
Tesco's existing UK communication infrastructure, connecting
more than 1,800 Tesco sites including stores, regional offices and
distribution centres.
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.
Tesco will install voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) on the
network, which it expects to reduce its voice and data call costs.
It will also enable a
fixed mobile
convergence (FMC) system for Tesco employees.
FMC will allow Tesco staff to use their existing mobile phones
for all calls - operating as a fixed-line phone in the office, and
roaming on to a mobile network outside. The service will better
equip Tesco's 'mobile' employees, such as logistics staff, as well
as significantly reducing its call and equipment costs.
Tesco also announced it is to use high-definition video
conferencing technology, provided by Cisco Systems.
The network will enable Tesco to lower the cost of
video-conferencing, and activate additional features such as shared
documents and interactive whiteboard facilities.