Sprint Extends MPLS VPN End-to-End Service Level Agreements to Include Global Partner Networks

Sprint continues to build on the power of its MPLS VPN capabilities for U.S.-based and multinational corporations. Now, end-to-end MPLS VPN Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are extended across global partner networks, which help expand Sprint's Global MPLS VPN capabilities for business customers to 137 countries worldwide.

Today Sprint also announces its enhancement of the long-standing partnership with Orange Business Services by increasing the overall breadth of services to include IP/MPLS capabilities in additional areas worldwide, notably throughout Europe and Asia. Sprint end-to-end MPLS VPN SLAs now apply to network connectivity with Orange, as well as other similar global partners.

Sprint Global MPLS VPN service allows businesses to converge data, voice, and video on a single network platform. This scalable service also includes robust network security and redundancy measures, flexible access options, and integration with Sprint wireless services to provide businesses and their customers with dependable, high-performing access to their information and applications whenever and wherever they need it. Sprint was the first global service provider to receive Cisco's "IP VPN - Multiservice QoS" certification to support real-time voice and video traffic.

"We continue to grow our IP/MPLS business domestically and internationally, helping our customers plan for the future by enhancing the capabilities available to their businesses," said Dan Dooley, vice president of international markets for Sprint. "By extending end-to-end MPLS SLAs to include our partners, customers can count on the quality of MPLS service they've come to expect from Sprint everywhere across the global Sprint-owned and partner MPLS footprints. The new relationship with Orange Business Services further validates our commitment to take IP/MPLS network connectivity to wherever our customers are doing business."

"We are really pleased to be extending our global partnership with Sprint," said Mack Treece, president of the Americas, Orange Business Services. "Now multinational corporations can benefit even further from the unmatched global reach of the combined Sprint and Orange Business Services networks and our mutual commitment to deliver an outstanding customer experience."

In April 2006, Sprint introduced the industry's first standard end-to-end MPLS VPN SLAs on its wholly owned global network. End-to-end performance guarantees extend SLA coverage and reporting beyond the backbone network to include the local loop, covering service from customer router to customer router. The service level guarantees include an enhanced network availability SLA of up to 100%, standard end-to-end packet loss and jitter SLAs, and a standard end-to-end delay methodology encompassing Sprint's entire global backbone and partner networks.

As part of Sprint's ongoing global MPLS expansion, Sprint is working with regional and global service providers to augment Sprint's wholly owned capabilities through network-to-network interface (NNI) partnerships. This strategy includes establishing service agreements between the partner and the Sprint IP/MPLS backbone so customers can experience congestion-free connectivity with security, redundancy and quality of service. The first such agreement was announced in April 2006 with Rogers Communications in Canada through its business division, Rogers Business Solutions.

For additional information, contact Sprint Business sales at 1-800-370-6105 or visit www.sprint.com/business/products/products/MPLSVPN_tabA.html.

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 53.1 million customers at the end of 2006; industry-leading mobile data services; instant national and international walkie-talkie capabilities; and an award-winning and global Tier 1 Internet backbone. For more information, visit www.sprint.com.


Contact:

Sprint Nextel
Media:
Stephanie Greenwood, 913-794-3658
Stephanie.greenwood@sprint.com

Source: Sprint Nextel