UK: C&W wins Centrica deal worth £79m  

Cable&Wireless announced it has signed a five-year £79 million contract with Centrica to provide a next generation telecommunications network for the group's UK operations. Following a tender process, Cable&Wireless will become the exclusive provider of telecommunications to Centrica in the UK. Under the new contract Cable&Wireless will streamline the group's existing systems into a single, efficient IP network, based on next generation platforms.

Centrica's networks infrastructure will be consolidated onto Cable&Wireless' next generation, Multi Service Platform (MSP), connecting 61 sites and providing managed services to 111 sites in total.

The MSP is Cable&Wireless' next generation telecommunications network. It is a single operating network, which transports all information and services (voice, data, video, other media etc) via an IP-based infrastructure. The MSP enables Cable&Wireless to provide efficient, high bandwidth networks, with quicker delivery times and higher service reliability. Cable&Wireless is also able to offer a range of innovative data applications like IP-CCTV and Fixed Mobile Convergence via the MSP.

Commenting, Jim Marsh, Chief Executive Officer, Cable&Wireless Europe, Asia & US, said: "This is a landmark customer win for Cable&Wireless and we're very happy to be powering the Centrica network for the next five years. We designed and developed our next generation network to deliver the most innovative, but reliable services to enterprise customers like this.

About Cable&Wireless

Cable&Wireless is one of the world's leading international communications companies. It operates through two standalone business units - Europe, Asia & US and International.

The Europe, Asia & US business unit (formerly known as the "UK" business) provides enterprise and carrier solutions to the largest users of telecoms services across the UK, US, continental Europe and Asia, and wholesale broadband services in the UK.

Cable & Wireless International creates and manages world class regional telecoms businesses in small to medium sized markets around the world. With four major operations in the Caribbean, Panama, Macau and Monaco & Islands it operates in 39 countries and offers mobile, broadband, domestic and international fixed line services to residential and business customers.

For more information about Cable&Wireless, go to www.cw.com

Date - 03/12/2008