Through the five-year agreement, Tata Communications will become BT’s primary supplier of International Direct Dial (IDD) and other voice termination services outside BT’s own footprint countries and BT will become Tata Communication’s main distribution channel for its IDD traffic into the UK, expanding into other markets across Europe as the relationship matures.

By providing each party with access to additional capacity and flexibility, the relationship will allow BT and Tata Communications to benefit from each others’ strengths as they develop and grow their businesses in their respective markets.

Brian Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of BT Wholesale Markets, said: “Tata Communications is a leader in the international wholesale voice business, making them a perfect partner to help us achieve additional economies of scale to those of our own. We look forward to maximising the opportunities this relationship presents to both organisations as we expand our portfolio of wholesale products and services and ultimately strive to become even more competitive with our pricing.”

Michel Guyot, President of Global Voice Solutions, Tata Communications, said: “We are proud to become BT’s primary supplier of international voice termination services. The agreement will increase both partners’ competitiveness and will enhance our respective service offerings. We are also very excited to have BT as our main distribution channel in the UK as we are confident that BT’s resources and strong knowledge of the European market will be of great benefit to Tata Communications.”

The relationship will allow BT and Tata Communications to benefit from their respective extensive global networks and advantageous cost structures. BT will also have access to Tata Communications’ world-class routing capabilities and on-line management systems providing greater economies of scale that will improve BT’s competitiveness in the international calls market.

Previously, Ben Verwaayen was appointed to the Board of Directors of BT on January 14, 2002 and became Chief Executive on February 1, 2002. He left BT Group on June 1, 2008 as Chairman of the Board’s Operating Committee.

Before joining BT Group, he was at Lucent Technologies starting September 1997, holding various positions. He left Lucent as Vice Chairman of the Management Board. Other positions that Ben Verwaayen held at Lucent were Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, and Executive Vice-President, International.

Prior to joining Lucent, Ben Verwaayen worked for KPN in the Netherlands for nine years as President and Managing Director of its subsidiary PTT Telecom. From 1975 to 1988, he worked at ITT in Europe.

He was appointed an Independent, Non-Executive Director of UPS in March 2005.

He has been made an Officer of the Orange Order-Nassau and an Honorary Knight of the British Empire (KBE). He has also received the Chevalier de la Légion d ‘Honneur medal.

Ben Verwaayen is a Dutch national and graduated with a Master’s degree in law and international politics from the State University of Utrecht, Holland.

Contact: Ben.Verwaayen@alcatel-lucent.com