BT will enable EDF Trading to share its London-based private wire connections over its existing MPLS network and display them simultaneously on the traders’ ITS devices in both cities.

Key energy traders and back-office staff have been equipped with BT's ITS.Netrix multimedia desktop device, designed to maximise trader effectiveness and enable truly converged communication and collaboration. In addition EDF will have access to the ITS Management Suite, an integrated suite of sophisticated management services which allows system updates to be done either from the trading floor, or remotely. This will enable monitoring of the ITS system’s performance, and management of the Paris site entirely from EDF Trading’s main floor in London.

EDF Trading can now take advantage of the latest Internet Protocol (IP)-based communications technology and migrate key aspects of its business, such as telephony services, to IP, where it makes sense. BT has worked in partnership with Cisco Systems to deploy a Cisco Unified Call Manager call-processing system and local area network (LAN). The technology will allow EDF Trading to move internal calls to the company’s own network at the appropriate time, delivering cost savings and increased flexibility.

Shane Turner, head of IT, EDF Trading, said: "EDF Trading has been using BT's voice trading technology since the company was founded in 1999. The opening of our Paris trading floor is an exciting step for us and we are delighted to be extending our relationship with BT. BT is helping us to replicate the same successful trading environment in Paris that we have in London. Crucially they are delivering and supporting a fully integrated voice and data solution taking advantage of the latest IP technology, giving us greater flexibility and operational efficiency over the longer term."

Rod MacDonald, managing director, BT Trading Systems, said: "The energy market has seen a lot of change over the past few years which is driving some firms to re-examine their trading technology. EDF Trading has now equipped its Paris office with an impressive new trading floor which will not only help them compete more effectively, but by using BT technology is also future-proofed, giving them the ability to move from TDM to IP connectivity should they choose to do so."