Virgin Media hands BT its fixed line switching network

 

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By Nicole Kobie

Posted on 7 Dec 2007 at 15:19

Virgin Media has signed a five-year, £98 million contract with BT Wholesale to manage its telephone switching network ahead of a switch to VoIP.

"Our telephony switching network remains an important asset within Virgin Media, and by utilising BT Wholesale we gain operational cost efficiencies ahead of the network's eventual upgrade to Voice over Internet Protocol technology, whilst keeping guaranteed levels of service for our customers," says Paul Weir, managing director of networks for Virgin Media.

Under the contract, BT Wholesale will also look after current support contracts with third-party suppliers on behalf Virgin Media.

Virgin Media's voice switching network supports about a fifth of all landline phones in the UK, and the deal will see 184 Virgin Media employees transferred to BT Wholesale.