AT&T wins Swiss airline IP contract

Swiss, the Swissair successor airline, is to pay AT&T $2.4m over three years to connect locations around the world using virtual private network (VPN) technology.

The AT&T Global Network (AGN) will link 36 sites across Europe and North America, making available IP VPNs based on a technology called MPLS (Multilayer Protocol Switching), which translates into increased networking flexibility.

As with past contracts won by the US carrier, Swiss will be able to link its headquarters in Basle with airport, cargo and sales offices around the world, and also run voice over IP (VoIP), which should mean a cost saving on calls.

AT&T competes with companies such as BT, C&W, Equant, Infonet, MCI and Sprint in offering IP VPN services globally.