LONDON and PARIS -- BT and Alcatel-Lucent (Euronext Paris and NYSE:ALU) have announced that they have signed a major managed services contract under which Alcatel-Lucent’s Services will assume responsibility for the majority of BT Global Services’ equipment maintenance and spares management contracts. The eight-year contract covers First Line Maintenance, Second, Third and Fourth Line Support and Spares Management. The contract is worth approximately Euro 263 million (USD 350 million) and BT expects to derive cost savings in excess of Euro 75 million (USD100 million) over the lifetime of the contract.

“By moving to a single-point-of-contact supplier, we will be able to benefit from having one primary interface for support services rather than having to manage a large number of service vendors, while service level agreements will remain at the current high level, or be improved where needed. This innovative approach is in line with our strategy and commitment to combine ambitious cost reduction programmes with improvements in customer service. Alcatel-Lucent's innovative thinking and its experience in delivering best in class services is widely recognised in the industry," said Roel Louwhoff, President of Customer Service and Network Operation in BT Global Services.

“We are delighted to be working with BT Global Services on this ground-breaking managed services contract, which draws on our strengths in delivering high levels of service in a multi vendor environment, as BT transitions it’s legacy networks over to the all IP platform being created by the 21 CN programme, and strive to drive more costs out of their business” said Andy Williams, President, Global Network Operations, for Alcatel-Lucent’s services activities.

Alcatel-Lucent (NYSE: ALU)