Effective voice and data communications and the networks that support them are a catalyst for change in how businesses work. The ability to share information, systems and processes and to send and receive voice, data and messages instantly, helps to make working across dispersed business units practicable. The same networks can also help a growing organisation to enhance innovation and make gains in employee productivity.

CAPACITY AND CONVERGENCE

But international communications links have been available for a long time, so what's changed now to make them the engine of both globalisation and growth? The answer lies in two factors - capacity and convergence.

Demand for bandwidth has been explosive. The take-off of broadband and mobile technologies has led to the development of new, faster services that are increasingly bandwidth-hungry. In turn, this has triggered major investments in network capacity around the globe. Increased capacity and the growing availability of access points have helped to reduce unit costs, which further stimulates both usage and development of services.

When this additional capacity is combined with the process of convergence, there are clear, new opportunities for reducing communications costs and administrative overheads at the same time as improving services to users.

RESPONDING TO CUSTOMERS NEEDS

Communications Service Providers set up international networks for their business customers, but may also need to extend the reach and capacity of their own networks; in either case, providers have a choice.

A multi-protocol network provides easy and cost effective access in many countries. Private line connections can also provide the resilience of permanent, secure connections. Guaranteed service levels and world-class support underpin both approaches to ensure end-users get the quality of service they require, reliably and consistently.

READ BETWEEN THE LINES

BT's GLOBAL MPLS NETWORK

BT's Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is available from the UK, Europe and the US with direct access to more than 70 countries from more than 1000 points of presence. MPLS provides point-to-point and any-to-any configurations with a wide range of bandwidth options.

Each customer's network is configured as a Virtual Private Network and MPLS offers distinct classes of service - for voice, multimedia, assured data and standard data - that guarantee service levels and prioritise important and delay-sensitive applications and traffic.

BT's MPLS network and Private Lines solutions can deliver a secure and resilient service to virtually any location and are available in unbundled or BT-managed options.