Abt Associates Extends Voice Contract with AT&T, Awards Another for Network Solutions

Cambridge, Massachusetts,- AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) today announced the growth of its relationship with Abt Associates, a global government and business research and consulting firm. The expansion is highlighted by Abt Associates’ decision to migrate from its current service provider to AT&T’s Private Network Transport (PNT) service.

Abt Associates signed a winback agreement with AT&T to install its PNT service, which uses AT&T’s Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-enabled network and provides robust scalability. The contract also includes the implementation of a wide area network (WAN)-based Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offering across a seven-site U.S. network.

In addition, the PNT network provides Abt Associates with ample bandwidth to handle various disaster-recovery initiatives. Abt has two application hubs on its network — in Cambridge, Mass., and Bethesda, Md. — for added support.

The company also renewed an existing AT&T Business Network (ABN) agreement, which includes long distance voice and audioconferencing services. The extended contract makes AT&T the sole provider of all voice services to Abt Associates.

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with AT&T,” said David Kiklis, director of IT for Abt Associates. “The enhanced network environment, courtesy of the PNT service, allows us to develop our own solutions for disaster recovery and data security while addressing several regulatory and audit requirements in an efficient manner.”