Verizon Business Expands Presence in India

Investments in Infrastructure, Capabilities and Expertise Support Delivery of Advanced Communications Services to India-Based Multinational Companies

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. and MUMBAI, India - Verizon Business is significantly expanding its presence in India to support the direct delivery of advanced telecommunications services to multinational companies with operations in India, as well as to India-based multinationals.

Following receipt of international and national long-distance licenses in early 2008, Verizon Business is now activating Private IP nodes in the major Indian business centers of Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi. Offering customers a direct, secure, high-performance link to the Verizon Business global multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network, these nodes complement Verizon Business’ existing Indian operations to provide diverse and redundant connectivity.

In addition, Verizon Business is investing in local service and support capabilities to directly deliver its portfolio of next-generation solutions to customers, and enhance local customer-service capabilities. As part of Verizon Business’ commitment to globally consistent, high-quality service, India-based customers can now benefit from enhanced network-management capabilities, improved network resilience and diversity, and local, in-country billing in the local currency.

Blair Crump, Verizon Business group president worldwide sales, said: "For many of our customers, India is a key strategic business location that plays an increasingly critical role in supporting their global operations. Verizon Business’ core strategy is always to invest in unsurpassed network and human capabilities to support our customers’ business growth, and India is no exception.

“We are committed to giving our customers a consistent, high-quality experience wherever they partner with us around the world, and our investments in India enhance our ability to do this in the local market. We recognize India’s pivotal role in the global economy, and are committed to continuing to enhance our presence in the country to help our customers achieve their goals.”

Thanks to its new nodes, Verizon Business now offers its customers in India direct access to Verizon Private IP. The service is a network-based, virtual private network (VPN) that provides the foundation for automating business processes and collaboration between companies, including e-commerce, customer relationship management, video and net conferencing, and shared intranets and extranets. The service offers customers scalable and flexible network connections with integrated performance and traffic-management capabilities.

John Samuel, president of Verizon Business India, said: “Verizon Business already works with many of the leading players in the Indian market, and by enhancing our capabilities locally and globally, we are ensuring that we can continue to support their expanding business needs. Multinational customers’ business success relies on globally consistent, secure, high-quality communications services supported by reliable, diverse and redundant network connectivity. That is what Verizon Business delivers, in India and around the globe.”

Verizon is well-established in the Indian market. Verizon Business has offices in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and New Delhi; Verizon Data Services India employs more than 4,000 people at its IT Center of Excellence in Chennai and Hyderabad, performing a variety of software development, product design, coding and testing functions for Verizon’s global operations. Verizon Business also holds an internet service provider license in India and has various local ISP facilities.

Verizon Business is the only U.S. consortium member of the SEA-ME-WE-4 undersea cable network system, which provides diverse connectivity from India to Europe and Asia. The system, which spans 20,000 kilometers (12,000 miles), lands in two locations in India and reaches 14 countries in Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Western Europe. Verizon Business also announced in May its participation in the Europe India Gateway (EIG) Consortium, which is building a next-generation undersea optical cable system connecting Europe, the Middle East and India. The 15,000-kilometer (9,000-mile) cable network system will provide a second, diverse route from India to Europe, as well as direct access to Verizon Business’ network in Europe.

About Verizon Business India
Verizon Business India is the trading name of a joint venture between Verizon Business and the Videocon Group of Mumbai. Verizon Business holds a 74 percent stake in the joint venture, called Verizon Communications India Private Limited and doing business as Verizon Business India; Videocon Group holds the remaining 26 percent.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), operates the world’s most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company’s customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.