KPN International, a leading European provider of next-generation telecommunications services, has extended availability of its IP network solutions into the United States and Canada, strengthening the KPN International global network. Based on a new partnership agreement with Sprint (NYSE: S), KPN International’s network in Europe and locations in North America are now seamlessly interconnected with Sprint’s IP network. As a result, multinational enterprises now benefit from MPLS and Wide Area Network solutions which enable them to connect with employees, partners, suppliers and customers worldwide.
By working with Sprint, KPN International customers will now benefit in North America from the robust security and reliability of global MPLS VPN services based on Sprint’s Tier 1 IP network, which are highly flexible, scalable and quick to implement. Customers will enjoy a network experience consistent with that on KPN’s network today, regardless of their geographic locations. The extended capabilities will also deliver fully managed networking services to simplify network management and maintenance for businesses.
“The extensive coverage into the U.S. and Canada is a further step in KPN International’s successful strategy of partnering with global carriers. Our partnerships with Sprint for North America, with SingTel for Asia and Telefonica for South America enable our customers a truly global network experience, covering 85% of the world economy” explains Carolien Nijhuis, Vice President of KPN International. “Multinational customers like Groeneveld Transport Efficiency B.V. have already benefited from the new agreement with Sprint to connect their locations in Europe, the U.S. and Canada via an end-to-end MPLS VPN network.”
Dan Dooley, vice president of international and wholesale at Sprint, added, “KPN’s selection of Sprint as their IP partner in North America validates Sprint’s expertise in delivering a comprehensive IP portfolio to businesses. Our relationship allows KPN to meet their customer needs in the U.S. and Canada with robust IP solutions. It enables KPN to serve as a one-stop shopping experience for their customers, providing seamless and end-to-end management of data solutions.”
About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including two robust wireless networks serving approximately 54 million customers at the end of 2007; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.
About KPN
KPN is a leading international telecommunications and ICT service provider, offering wireline and wireless telephony, internet and TV to consumers and end-to-end telecom and ICT services to business customers. KPN’s subsidiary Getronics operates a global ICT services company with a market leading position in the Benelux, offering end-to-end solutions in infrastructure and network-related IT. In Germany and Belgium, KPN pursues a multi-brand strategy in its mobile operations and holds number three market positions through E-Plus and BASE. KPN provides wholesale network services to third parties and operates an efficient IP-based infrastructure with global scale in international wholesale through iBasis. The international KPN data and IP services are enabled through an extensive, high-capacity fibre-optic network in 22 European countries, plus worldwide connections to 180 countries.
At December 31, 2007, KPN served over 35 million customers, of which 27 million in wireless services, 5.4 million in wireline voice, 2.4 million in broadband Internet and 0.5 million in TV. With 25,500 FTEs (43,531 FTEs including Getronics), KPN posted revenues of EUR 12.6bn in 2007, with an EBITDA of EUR 4.9bn. KPN was incorporated in 1989 and is listed on the Amsterdam, New York, London and Frankfurt stock exchanges