Verizon Business Selected as a Prime Contractor for Networx Universal

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Business will help the federal government usher in a new era of advanced communications services - providing cutting-edge voice, data, wireless and Internet services to government agencies around the world - under a multibillion-dollar contract awarded today by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Verizon Business was one of three prime contractors awarded the long-anticipated GSA Networx Universal contract, which authorizes it to compete for business from individual agencies.

Networx Universal is the first of two Networx contracts awarded by the GSA to modernize federal government communications. It is designed to enable the government to choose among a comprehensive range of integrated telecommunications and network services, ranging from converged voice, video and data services over a single network to a variety of next-generation offerings, including advanced IP services, managed services and advanced security services.

Through Networx, Verizon Business will leverage its global network and will act as a services and solutions integrator in meeting the many product and service requirements of the government. Verizon Wireless will provide wireless voice and broadband services.

The second contract, Enterprise, is expected to be awarded later this spring. It has fewer mandatory requirements than the Universal contract and is intended to allow additional companies to participate in the Networx program.

The Networx program is among the largest federal communication contracts in history and has an overall value of as much as $20 billion over 10 years spread among all awardees. Networx will replace FTS2001 and several other telecommunications agreements.

"With a proven track record of providing communications to the federal government for nearly 20 years, Verizon Business is well-positioned to continue helping customers meet their special requirements" said John Killian, president of Verizon Business. "Verizon Business has earned its position as one of the top communications providers to the federal government through continued investment in our networks and our tireless commitment to meeting our customers’ needs for complex end-to-end solutions"

Susan Zeleniak, vice president for Verizon Federal, an organization within Verizon Business dedicated to serving federal government customers, said: "The GSA has been forward-thinking on the Networx contracts and is offering federal agencies end-to-end solutions that require a service provider with experience at delivering complex services. We appreciate this show of confidence and stand ready to work with the GSA to help take federal government communications to the next level"

Verizon Business, one of the two telecommunications service providers initially awarded the FTS2001 contracts by the GSA in January 1999, serves virtually every federal agency under that contract. As agencies transition to Networx, Verizon Business will continue to offer the telecommunications services it currently provides under the FTS2001 Bridge Contract.

Under Networx, just as with FTS2001, federal agencies worldwide will be able to capitalize on Verizon Business advanced voice and data network services as well as a variety of next-generation offerings, including managed services, advanced security services, enterprise wireless, storage, application, management and collaboration services, teleworking, Web hosting and advanced call center services.

Verizon Business is already ahead of the game in meeting the government’s demands for next-generation networking services. The company last year opened a new Government Network Operations and Security Center (GNOSC), a state-of-the-art facility in Northern Virginia dedicated to supporting the unique security and operational requirements of federal government customers. The GNOSC, built to government security standards, supports the managed network services Verizon Business provides to a wide variety of federal government agencies.

The GNOSC, along with Verizon Business’s vBNS+ (Very High Speed Backbone Network Service), will also play an important role in helping the federal government adopt the next generation of Internet protocol -- known as version six, or IPv6 -- and meet the Office of Management and Budget’s mandated transition target of June 2008. Verizon Business is a pioneer in developing and delivering IPv6 capabilities to market, helping to expand the availability of IP address space and to accommodate the growing number of IP-enabled network devices in the marketplace.

As one of the largest communications service providers to the government, Verizon Business has delivered government customers many advanced services ranging from call center applications to dedicated security operations. The company will leverage its experience, product capabilities, IP leadership and vendor relationships as it transitions to the Networx contract. Verizon Business today provides a comprehensive range of communications services to civilian and defense agencies.

Verizon Business is one of the largest providers of advanced data, Internet and voice communications services in the United States and around the world. Verizon Business offers local-to-global-to-local network capabilities coupled with a broad range of telecommunications products and services, including managed network services and systems integration, to all levels of government. With this broad portfolio of services, Verizon Business can provide federal agencies with one-stop shopping for their communications or connectivity needs. The company has built the next-generation services that are helping to transform the way government customers -- and their constituents -- do business.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.