Customer wins are up

In May the three largest long-haul telecommunications carriers were quite active in signing customer contracts.

As AT&T, MCI and Sprint try to win new business customers, nabbing federal government and large corporate contracts is key.

Of course, it’s possible that we’re just hearing more about customer wins because each of the carriers is simply more proactive about announcing them, but nonetheless May turned out to be a decent month for each carrier.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inked a four-year deal with AT&T Government Solutions worth $76.6 million early in May.

AT&T is managing the government’s data network that supports the Medicare and Medicaid system. State and federal agencies, totaling “tens of thousands of users” around the country, use this network to support Medicare and Medicaid consumers and process their claims.

In addition to managing its data network, AT&T is also hosting the Web sites for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Last week, AT&T Government Solutions re-signed another government agency to a three-year deal. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is using AT&T’s Web hosting services to support its human resource site used by government employees and also its external Web site. The contract is worth $850,000. 

MCI announced a federal government contract win. The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) inked a seven-year deal with MCI to provide satellite services to 90 meteorological offices. NOAA is using MCI’s Very Small Aperture Terminal services to reach its offices, some in locations that are remote and difficult to reach. MCI would not disclose the dollar amount associated with this contract:

https://www.nwfusion.com/edge/news/2003/0520noaa.html

Sprint announced that Westinghouse Electric signed a “multiyear, multimillion-dollar agreement” with the carrier for new data and voice services. The nuclear power company will use Sprint’s IP, private line and frame relay data services in the U.S. and overseas. Plus, the company is using Sprint’s audio conferencing and voice services.  Westinghouse sought out a new carrier partner to help consolidate its current infrastructure to operate a more efficient network, according to Sprint.

The carrier also signed deals with the March of Dimes for IP services; New Balance Athletic Shoe for IP VPN, voice over IP and traditional voice services; and Virtual Care Provider for frame relay and DSL services.