BT Completes Successful Pilot Testing of iDirect SatManage System to Strengthen Network Operations

HERNDON, Va., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of VT Systems Inc. (VT Systems), today announced that BT, one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries, has completed a successful proof of concept of SatManage and has immediate plans to implement the software. SatManage is a Web-based network management suite of tools designed to help operators like BT efficiently monitor large, hybrid networks. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

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BT plans to track over 200 customer sites through SatManage to keep up with its growing operations and gain greater visibility and control of its expanding global networks at its Network Operations Center (NOC). As the provider looks to increase competitiveness and actively pursue new customers in the oil and gas, finance, and manufacturing markets, it has become critical to maximize efficiency at the NOC in order to keep costs down and customer satisfaction high. BT plans to increase its profitability through the new system by optimizing NOC operations, increasing SLA compliance and offering a customized Web portal to customers as a value-added service.

During pilot testing of SatManage to monitor and analyze its customer network data, BT found that the software had powerful interfacing capabilities to provide an end-to-end network view by integrating data from different systems in a single, easy-to-read display. Further, SatManage's advanced data mining and reporting capabilities help BT discover service outage patterns and determine the root cause of an issue, allowing the provider to expedite problem identification and resolution at the NOC.

"We've found SatManage to be ideal for monitoring our complex, hybrid networks with core tools that are powerful and simple to use. The software will be critical to our network operations strategy as we continue to grow, ensuring we can provide customers with affordable, competitive services. There's simply no other system available that can do everything SatManage does."

~ Mark WILSON-DUNN

Global Sales and Marketing Director, BT Media and Broadcast, BT Wholesale

"Major service providers like BT are focused on building global networks that provide seamless connectivity and support bandwidth-intensive applications to meet customer demands. SatManage helps them address the increasing size and complexity of today's satellite networks by providing Web-based software tools that bolster performance, quicken response times, improve customer satisfaction and lower operating costs."

~ Steve TUNNICLIFFE

Regional Vice President, Europe, iDirect

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in more than 170 countries.  Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale. In the year ended 31 March 2010, BT Group's revenue was pounds Sterling 20,911 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.  BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt.

iDirect, a subsidiary of VT Systems, is transforming the way the world gets and stays connected. The company's satellite-based IP communications technology enables constant connectivity for voice, video and data applications in diverse and challenging environments. The iDirect Intelligent Platform™ integrates advanced technology into iDirect's portfolio of hubs, routers and network management software to address the growing complexity of deploying and managing global IP networks. With more than 15 years of global satellite communications experience, iDirect serves customers in over 50 countries through a diverse network of service provider partners, including seven of the World Teleport Association's Global Top Ten operators. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, iDirect has offices in Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. In 2007, iDirect Government Technologies (iGT) was set up to drive adoption of its IP-based solutions in the US Government market. In 2008, iDirect Asia Pte Ltd was established in Singapore to enhance its value-add and responsiveness to customers in the Asia Pacific region.  Please visit www.idirect.net.

VT Systems is a diversified company providing integrated engineering solutions to the commercial and government markets in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors.  VT Systems' innovative solutions, products and services include aircraft maintenance, repair and modification; software solutions in training and simulation; satellite-based IP communications technology; network solutions that integrate data, voice and video; rugged computers and computer peripheral equipment; specialized truck bodies and trailers; weapons and munitions systems; road construction equipment; and ship design and shipbuilding. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., VT Systems operates globally and is a wholly owned subsidiary of ST Engineering.  Please visit www.vt-systems.com.

SOURCE iDirect