BT Upgrades emea Satellite Network With iDirect's Evolution Platform

HERNDON, Va., July 20 /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, is upgrading its EMEA satellite network infrastructure to iDirect's Evolution platform. With the upgrade to Evolution, BT can now operate its satellite network more efficiently for finance, oil and gas, and government customers. BT plans to complete the migration of its customers to iDirect Evolution X3 remotes during the remainder of 2010. iDirect is a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology.

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With Evolution, BT's network upgrade will provide customers with improved quality of service and give the company additional capacity to offer its BT Satellite IP services to a broader customer base. The company, which has one of the most comprehensive coverage areas of any terrestrial Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, will use the iDirect platform to extend that reach even further and provide integrated and reliable connectivity for a wide range of enterprise customers, regardless of location or access to terrestrial infrastructure. The network is based on iDirect's Evolution platform, designed to support remote IP applications that connect branches of multinational corporations, introduce core communications infrastructure for rural areas, and extend government and education initiatives to remote populations.

BT is an early adopter of iDX 2.1, iDirect's latest software upgrade to its Evolution product line. The efficiency gains and scalability improvements of iDX 2.1 combine with the core capabilities of Evolution and iDX 2.0 to provide BT with greater bandwidth efficiencies and service flexibility. These improvements give BT the flexibility to support a wide range of more bandwidth-intensive enterprise applications including Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Voice over IP (VoIP) and videoconferencing.

"The iDirect platform has proven itself as a most efficient solution for allocating bandwidth across remote locations, economically serving sites with a dynamic range of network traffic. Our investment in iDirect gives us the ability to seamlessly integrate satellite and terrestrial networks in order to support the connectivity needs of a broad range of enterprise customers throughout EMEA."

~ Mark WILSON-DUNN

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

"Major telecom carriers like BT use iDirect's platform to meet growing enterprise needs by building next-generation IP communications networks. These networks must deliver seamless and guaranteed global connectivity, supporting voice, data and video applications in any business, geographical or communications environment. BT was one of iDirect's very first European customers and they continue to rely on our platform today."

~ 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 20,911 million pounds Sterling.

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 solutions to the commercial and government markets in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors. VT Systems products and services include aircraft inspection, maintenance 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 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