WASHINGTON -- Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., a global leader in strategy and technology consulting, has awarded AT&T a $5 million contract to reengineer and standardize the firm's global networking infrastructure.

The AT&T solution consists of a rapid migration to AT&T's multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) based technology, which provides the consulting firm with global collaboration capabilities, and other comprehensive networking services for its world-wide operations.

When seeking a single source provider for its networking needs, Booz Allen turned to AT&T for a standardized, high-quality set of services and applications over a secure and consistent global network for its more than 14,000 employees across six continents.

"We needed a networking services provider with global reach and reliability," said Daniel Gasparro at Booz Allen. "Our corporate and government clients expect immediate access to Booz Allen's people and expertise everywhere in the world, and AT&T's networking solution will support that."

AT&T packaged a secure virtual private networking solution that integrates multiple services, including IP-enabled frame relay and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) services, DSL-to-frame relay, and leased-line access connecting directly to the AT&T global IP backbone. The solution provides Booz Allen consulting teams across the globe with real-time collaboration capabilities on client projects using Internet access, e-mail, instant messaging, conferencing, file and database sharing.

Booz Allen will also benefit from the convergence of multiple communications systems onto a single global network, while gaining the benefits of high security, service redundancy and enhanced performance of AT&T's MPLS-enabled global network.

The AT&T solution also combines a portfolio of network services, which includes Global Calling Card Service, Managed and Global Managed Internet Services, and local and long-distance voice services. The agreement also allows for a multi-million dollar, multi-year option and includes services previously offered by MCI.

AT&T Corp.

Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.