IP VPN Links National Network for ABN AMRO Group Member
Milan, 20 October 2006 - Verizon Business (NYSE: VZ) and FASTWEB (Milan, MTAX: FWB) have entered into a four-year agreement with Banca Antonveneta (ABN AMRO Group) to link over 1000 branch offices and ATMs across Italy via a fully managed Internet Protocol (IP) Virtual Private Network (VPN). Verizon Business, a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology solutions to large business and government customers worldwide, and FASTWEB, Italy's second largest fixed telephony operator and the first player worldwide to develop an all IP network, are teaming to implement and manage a secure Virtual Private Network to enable connectivity between the major Italian banking group's key locations across Italy.
To support its strategic objectives of territorial and product expansion, Banca Antonveneta initiated a wide-ranging project to transition its existing traditional data infrastructure to an advanced IP-based networking environment. As a key element of this process, Verizon Business and FASTWEB were chosen to implement a secure, private IP VPN to link Banca Antonveneta's six main managing offices, national branch network, disaster recovery site and data centers, and additional 90 ATM sites outside the core branch network to support customer facing banking facilities as well as internal communications.
Banca Antonveneta (ABN AMRO Group) is one of Italy's leading banking groups. With over 1,000 branches across Italy, servicing over 1.5 million clients, the group has total assets of almost Euro 50 billion. The group offers its customers traditional retail banking, private banking, asset management, bancassurance and merchant banking.
The Verizon Business and FASTWEB solution allows Banca Antonveneta to both meet its current connectivity requirements at national level, as well to support its future ambitions - being part of a global group as ABN AMRO. The companies were chosen as the bank's key technology partners due to their combination of global reach, national presence and technological expertise. Verizon Business' experience supporting large business and government customers worldwide, and FASTWEB's expertise in the Italian market made the cooperative relationship an ideal choice for Banca Antonveneta.
"FASTWEB continues to affirm its position in the Corporate segment," said Stefano Parisi, FASTWEB Managing Director. "FASTWEB is already the main provider of traditional voice and data services to the Italian Public Agencies, and also has a strong presence with enterprise clients, including financial institutions. This agreement with Banca Antonveneta recognizes the high quality level of service, and technological efficiency that we are able to offer our clients."
"By delivering expert managed services, backed by industry-leading service level agreements, we are helping Banca Antonveneta make a smooth transition to IP while enabling the bank to focus on its core business," said Massimo Peselli, Country Manager, Verizon Business Italia. "Verizon Business manages some of the most sophisticated, complex networks worldwide for customers like Banca Antonveneta and ABN AMRO. This new agreement confirms our strong presence in the Italian market, and continues our heritage supporting strategic sectors such as Finance."