PARIS -- The global pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck has signed a contract extension with Orange Business Services for the delivery of an IP VPN to facilitate secure, efficient connectivity at 180 locations in 60 countries.

Merck sites use a range of access solutions based on business requirements from Small Office Solutions using an xDSL-based, 2 Mbps connection for small to medium-sized locations up to Gigabit Ethernet for its mission-critical sites.

Along with a global network, Orange Business Services provides Merck video collaboration services, enabling efficient cross-functional decision-making, and Business Acceleration, a suite of business services that improves visibility, management and performance of applications through an optimized communications infrastructure.

Dr. Peter Emele, Director of Global eWorkplace and Communications, Merck in Darmstadt, explains the main rationale for the contract extension: “In order to ensure optimal support for our business activities, we expect the best possible service – both in network or collaboration services – from our strategic service provider. Orange Business Services was first choice for us. In addition, amidst the political upheaval in Egypt and the nuclear reactor catastrophe in Japan, Orange proved itself a reliable partner capable of securing our global production and business processes through tailored business continuity solutions.”

Orange Business Services