Fujitsu Wins Whitbread Contract

RICHARDSON, Texas -- Fujitsu Services, one of Europe’s leading IT infrastructure management services companies, has signed a contract to modernise and manage the voice and data networks at Whitbread Group PLC, the UK’s leading leisure retailer, including brands such as Brewers Fayre, Marriott Hotels, David Lloyd Leisure, Travel Inn and Costa Coffee. The five-year outsourcing contract will see Fujitsu take over all of Whitbread’s voice and data services.

The contract will provide technological and commercial advantages through the aggregation of Whitbread’s divisional requirements. Whitbread will make use of Fujitsu’s high security MPLS core data network, alongside the introduction of VoIP (Voice over IP telephony) in their corporate sites. The outsourced solution includes management of network links, from ISDN to Megastream Ethernet, to over 1100 locations within the UK. In addition, this fully managed network service offers minimal integration issues as network requirements change to match Whitbread’s aggressive growth plans.

By outsourcing its network management to a single supplier, Whitbread will gain savings of up to 20% per year in overall network costs.

“The migration to a single, Whitbread wide converged Voice and Data Network will provide access to new technology that will enable a range of new business opportunities. Just as important, though, is the flexibility Fujitsu have shown in agreeing to a guaranteed savings profile with built-in decreases over five years and fixed annual pricing that allows our brands budgeting certainty,” says Derek Risk, Whitbread’s Director of Group Systems.

Fujitsu Ltd.