6 July 2009

FRANKFURT - The German insurance group Die Continentale is optimizing its communications network with support from T-Systems and Nortel* [OTC: NRTLQ]. T-Systems implements and operates the new infrastructure, and Nortel provides the Metro Ethernet Wide Area Networking (WAN) technology for the Dortmund-based insurance group.

The benefits of the new infrastructure for Die Continentale include higher availability and scalability of their network, a simplified administration of the network and lower operation costs compared to more complex MPLS-based solutions. The new converged WAN infrastructure ensures the end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) for an optimized voice transmission without delays and IP telephony without quality losses.

With its modernized Wide Area Network (WAN) employees in Continentale's branch offices and call centers are able to access the company's main customer database in real time, allowing them to respond to client inquiries more efficiently. This helps optimize communications within Continentale and improve customer satisfaction.

"When we invited bids for the modernisation of our WAN infrastructure, Nortel and T-Systems again impressed us with the reliability, scalability and the pricing of their proposed solution," said Wilfried Porr, head of IT, Communications and Networks, Continentale. "The combined solution enabled us to fully meet our goals for this modernization project. With our new WAN infrastructure, and the support for existing and planned real-time applications, we are now perfectly placed in technological terms to meet current and future challenges in our business."

"Powerful, low-cost IT infrastructure plays an important role, especially in the insurance industry," said Joerg Elsaesser, business leader, Enterprise Networks, Nortel Germany. "A simple and consistent voice and data communications infrastructure is essential for quick and efficient communications with customers and partners. Our Metro Ethernet optical solution fits perfectly with these requirements and positions Continentale to switch to highly available IP telephony in the future, which will allow them to achieve further cost-savings especially compared to more complex MPLS-based solutions."

Die Continentale has used a Nortel IP telephony-ready infrastructure in its local area network (LAN) for a number of years. Upgrading Continentale's legacy communications infrastructure to Metro Ethernet wide area technology streamlines the network to help alleviate complex and potentially vulnerable routing and protocol functions associated with competing network technologies like MPLS. The converged WAN infrastructure also delivers high-quality IP telephony services and real-time applications.

"With our solution we provide Continentale with an integrated IT infrastructure and enable the company to reduce costs as well as to optimize its customer service," said Helga Wissing, account manager, T-Systems.

T-Systems implemented a broad portfolio of Nortel solutions to meet Continentale's technical and business needs. Nortel's Metro Ethernet solution recently set a new economic benchmark for network efficiency while increasing broadband service potential. This allows extremely high-speed data transfers over fibre-optic networks. The carrier grade nationwide solution leverages a T-Systems managed service on a Packet Optical wide area network built using the Nortel Optical Multiservice Edge 6500 with Ethernet access connectivity achieved via the Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 and Metro Ethernet Services Unit 1850.

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