BRUSSELS, Belgium and PARIS -- Orange Business Services and HP have combined forces to deliver an innovative and modular approach to establish the European Union's secure and reliable communications exchange backbone, known as sTESTA.

sTESTA stands for secured Trans-European Services for Telematics between Administrations.

The initiative led by the European Commission, Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, was launched within the framework of the IDABC programme (Interoperable Delivery of pan-European e-Government Services to Public Administrations, Business and Citizens) and is seen as a key contributor to achieving the Lisbon Treaty goals that have been reinforced within the e-Europe i2010 strategy.

"We are extremely pleased the European Commission acknowledges that we can deliver the highest quality solution that meets both their communications and financial requirements," said Barbara Dalibard, President and CEO at Orange Business Services. "Orange and HP have been innovation partners for over a decade. Our winning solution designed especially for the sTESTA project is the natural outcome of this sustained collaborative partnership."

"Thanks to this contract, HP is strengthening our position within the European Institutions and further helping the EU to establish its homeland security backbone," said Francesco Serafini, senior vice president and managing director for HP Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and the Technology Solutions Group EMEA. "It is illustrating HP's capability to manage complex international environments. Our expertise in the field of IT Service Management combined with our methodology will bring a strong contribution to the successful implementation of the sTESTA project," he added.

Orange Business Services

HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ)