BT Launches “Cost Cutting” Virtual Network

BT has announced Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology which it claims should give companies the ability to manage IT networks and business applications more efficiently.

In a statement this week, BT said its iVPN service, available in 172 countries, is based around the company’s 21st Century Network next generation IP network. BT claims iVPN will help companies “reduce technical running costs and improve productivity” by giving firms the ability to prioritise traffic over their IT network.

Although the company did not provide any details of how much its iVPN service could save customers, the company is keen to position any new service as “efficient” and “cost cutting” given the present economic climate.

“BT’s goal is to improve efficiency, value and customer experience for customers across all our services,” said Neil Sutton, vice president of Global Propositions and Capabilities, BT Global Services. “The launch of BT iVPN is a significant step towards achieving this, building on the strength of our award winning global multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) service.”

According to Sandra O´Boyle, research director, at IT analysts Current Analysis services such as BT’s iVPN system could help businesses cut costs compared to managing networks purely internally. “For customers this translates into tangible benefits such as more accurate billing, faster provisioning times and resolution of any site performance issues.”

BT says it is combining iVPN with other services to help customers drive down costs such as internet based access, application optimisation, voice management, video conferencing, unified communications, data centres, call centres, security and mobility.