Japanese card company JCB International has signed a three year contract with Equant for the supply of a MPLS-based IP VPN to connect its 32 sites around the world.
JCB currently uses Equant's data transport service, Frame Relay, for extranet communications with its partners and merchants. The service is monitored by the vendor's network of management centres.
Under the new contract, Equant's professional services consultants will design and manage JCB's migration from a X.25 and frame relay network to an IP VPN. Consultants will also assist in the implementation of a Wireless LAN (WLAN) system that will provide JCB employees with remote access to internal systems.
Equant says the new network will improve communications and customer authentication processes. The new infrastructure will provide JCB employees with global, secure access to applications such as Lotus Notes and IBM legacy architecture, as well as access to proprietary customer information and transaction records.
Hiroaki Suwabe, manager of JCB International Systems Planning, says: "Equant presented us with a customised solution that met our current requirements and allowed for future expansion.
"With this new service, we are able to run our business more efficiently, while enjoying the benefits of having a single provider support our communications needs."