BT scores $3m Cochlear deal

BT has today announced a US$3 million deal to provide network services for Australian hearing technology specialist Cochlear, extending a previous relationship with the group.

The extension will include management of Cochlear's wide area network and multi-protocol label switching services. It will also involve migrating Cochlear's applications to the BT network, simplifying its previous network structure which involved multiple network providers. BT has already begun migration of the services and expected to complete the project by April.

BT's former contract was for six years. The company declined to disclose the length of the new contract.

"BT was able to provide a cost-effective solution supporting Cochlear's need to bring products to market more quickly," Craig Davis, manager of global communications, security and projects at Cochlear, said of the deal in a statement.

The project will be managed by BT's Sydney office, with support from its international offices, according to Kevin Taylor, managing director of BT, Asia Pacific.

"The global network is managed from Cochlear's Australian headquarters by a local BT team. By leveraging BT's global network capabilities, Cochlear will benefit from an infrastructure that will help it transition to its next stage of growth," he said.