AT&T and China Telecom are expanding their partnership to offer advanced global solutions to multinational companies.
“Our customers have told us that enhanced communication services between China and the rest of the world is a key factor for improving their competiveness and global expansion," said Roman Pacewicz, AT&T Business Solutions senior vice president of marketing and global strategy. “Developing this strategic framework agreement will allow customers with operations in China to take advantage of the same type of business transformational services they have in other parts of the globe."
The new agreement means AT&T will expand its existing IP-VPN service in China to allow greater technology choice, enhanced performance, broader national reach and total cost of ownership for multinational corporations that want to expand in the Asian nation. The telcos also want to explore the possibility of deploying an expanded suited of VPN-based services and advanced services like managed hosting, network-integration services, enterprise mobility solutions, cloud-based services and telepresence.
Other plans include connecting the China Telecom and AT&T MPLS-based IP networks in the United States, to provide the same global experiences for Chinese multinationals as they grow outside China; and exploring the possibility of providing mutual support in other regions of the world.
“Through the strategic collaboration between China Telecom and AT&T, China Telecom will be able to enhance its end-to-end service capabilities via AT&T networks in the U.S.," said Kou Fengda, managing director of China Telecom’s global business. "We will better serve our China-based and Asian customers in the U.S. China Telecom and AT&T will also be able to directly provide bilateral Wi-Fi roaming capabilities for each other’s customers so that they can enjoy enhanced wireless broadband services."
Definitive agreements are yet to be developed, but the carriers hope to offer multinational companies simpler contracting and billing arrangements; higher service levels for MPLS-based services; lower costs; an expanded portfolio of services between the U.S. and China; and shortened development time for new products and services.
The pair have a long relationship that includes a joint venture formed in 2000 – Shanghai Symphony Telecommunications Co.
