AT&T wins $37m Lockheed Martin networking deal

AT&T has won a $37m contract extension to provide voice, data and IP networking services to aerospace and defence technology giant Lockheed Martin.

The deal is a two-year extension on a long-standing relationship between the two companies which goes back 15 years. The original three-year networking services deal, signed in 2004, was worth $60m.

Lockheed Martin said the integration of voice, data and IP services will improve operational efficiency and give the company's 140,000 staff more flexibility.

The AT&T network will handle Lockheed Martin's mission-critical applications, and one of the key services will provide the defence contractor with management support and a single point of contact to streamline all service orders and installations.

Joseph Cleveland, CIO at Lockheed Martin, said it is vital for the company to have an "efficient and agile" network to ensure quick and secure access to the right information and services.

AT&T also recently announced a major sponsorship deal with Formula One motor racing team WilliamsF1 that will see the telco provide the team with a secure virtual private network at grands prix to support data and voice communications.