Zurich Insurance selects BT as global networking provider

NEW DELHI: British Telecom (BT) has entered into a six-year global communications and network contract with Zurich Insurance Group (Zurich).

The agreement will help transform Zurich’s IT infrastructure and is expected to deliver increased network performance and improved audio and video capabilities for the company’s customers and employees.

Under the agreement, BT will consolidate, modernise and manage Zurich’s communications infrastructure, which underpins the insurer’s operations across 49 countries worldwide.

The contract covers internet connectivity, global wide area networking and local area networking as well as IP telephony and enterprise voice services. It also includes technology supporting Zurich’s global contact centres.

In addition, BT will provide highly productive audio conferencing services using its pioneering high-definition BT MeetMe with Dolby Voice service. BT will also manage the video conferencing systems for Zurich located around the globe.

Robert Dickie, Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Zurich Insurance Group, said: “This is a major agreement for Zurich and a key part of our Group’s IT & Operations transformation.

“There are significant advantages in working with a truly global company, not the least of which are the increased agility and efficiency in dealing with one main provider.”

Using BT IP Connect — one of the world’s largest international virtual private network services which converges voice, video and data onto a single IP network — BT will deliver high bandwidth connectivity into various locations globally and will also provide connectivity into Zurich’s main data centres.

“Zurich has entrusted BT to manage its communications network because we understand that it’s critical for global companies to have local capability to serve customers wherever they may be. Zurich’s global network creates a foundation for seamless collaboration for employees worldwide and enables them to access the increasing number of business applications and services," said Luis Alvarez, Chief Executive, BT Global Services.