LONDON, July 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Global Crossing Limited (NASDAQ:GLBC – News), a leading global IP solutions provider, today announced that its subsidiary, Global Crossing (UK) Telecommunications Limited (GCUK) has been named one of only three suppliers in the Government Procurement Service, Managed Telecommunications Convergence Framework (MTCF).
The MTCF will facilitate the delivery of managed telephony and data network services and enable the public sector to benefit from access to a new portfolio of hosted IP telephony, unified communications and video conferencing services. All services delivered within the framework will either be PSN (Public Service Network)-certified or provide transition to PSN-certified services, if required.
“We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the three suppliers on the new framework,” said Ted Higase, Global Crossing managing director for UK and Europe. “As the Managed Telecommunications Service (MTS) provider, we have been a major supplier of public sector information and communications technologies for more than 15 years, and have delivered hosted IP telephony and flexible networking solutions to individual departments and broader government-wide initiatives. We also were one of the first suppliers to take part in the creation and delivery of the PSN, an important initiative designed to transform the way public sector IT is delivered and consumed.”
The framework agreement spans an initial two-year period with the option to extend further.
The MTCF will facilitate the replacement of the current MTS agreement held by Global Crossing, which originally was introduced in 1996 to provide managed voice and data services to a small number of government departments. However, the reach and requirements of the framework have expanded over time to encompass more public sector organisations and a range of IP and managed telephony services. As a result, the replacement framework is designed to better address the changing demands of the sector and its need for increased flexibility.
The unification process will establish a common platform that simplifies network management and helps deliver a modern system where users can be quickly added or subtracted, and maintenance and upgrades can be implemented efficiently. One tangible benefit of this approach is that government buildings could operate without multiple connections for each internal department or application.
“We recognise how important it is for the UK public sector to utilise and benefit from a single telecommunications and communications framework,” Higase continued. “The organisation as a whole will benefit from the increased efficiency, cost savings, and improved connectivity that our MTCF and PSN offerings provide.”
The MTCF is available to any public sector organisation in central and local government, as well as to those working in the education, health, criminal justice and charity sectors. Global Crossing may supply a variety of flexible solutions, some of which are provided in conjunction with its partners.
“MTCF represents welcome progress for the Government’s plans for its PSN project,” said Gary Barton, analyst at Current Analysis. “It is a sign of Global Crossing’s proactive engagement with PSN and of its established public sector credentials that it has been one of the three suppliers awarded a framework agreement for MTCF. MTCF is a strong example of what can be achieved when parties come together. MTCF and PSN already are showing signs that they will deliver real value for tax-payers’ money by providing increased efficiency in public sector ICT contracts.”
ABOUT MTCF
The MTCF is the successor to the existing Managed Telecommunications Service (MTS) contract, which is due to expire on 31 December 2011, and provides convergence towards the existing and emerging Public Services Network (PSN) standards.
The agreement provides managed telecommunications services to facilitate inter-organisational collaboration through secure communication, interoperability and sharing of information. The services available include voice, video, unified communications and network services, plus associated design, consultancy and other professional and supporting services. The framework agreement can be used by all public sector organisations and has an initial term of two years, with the option to extend for two further terms each of up to one year’s duration.
In addition to being the successor to MTS, other customers may call-off contracts under this framework agreement either directly or via a lead contracting authority such as Government Procurement Service.
ABOUT GLOBAL CROSSING
Global Crossing (NASDAQ:GLBC – News) is a leading global IP, Ethernet, data center and video solutions provider with the world’s first integrated global IP-based network. The company offers a full range of data, voice, collaboration, broadcast and media services delivered with superior customer service.
Global Crossing provides services to enterprises (including approximately 40 percent of the Fortune 500); government departments and agencies; and 700 carriers, mobile operators and ISPs. It delivers converged IP services to more than 700 cities in more than 70 countries, and has 17 world-class data centers in major business centers around the globe.
Please visit www.globalcrossing.com for more information about Global Crossing.
Website Access to Company Information
Global Crossing maintains a corporate website at www.globalcrossing.com, and you can find additional information about the company through the Investors pages on that website at http://investors.globalcrossing.com. Global Crossing utilizes its website as a channel of distribution of important information about the company. Global Crossing routinely posts financial and other important information regarding the company and its business, financial condition and operations on the Investors web pages.
Visitors to the Investors web pages can view and print copies of Global Crossing’s SEC filings, including periodic and current reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and in respect of GCUK’s Forms 20-F and 6-K, as soon as reasonably practicable after those filings are made with the SEC. Copies of the charters for each of the standing committees of Global Crossing’s Board of Directors, its Corporate Governance Guidelines, Ethics Policy, press releases and analysts presentations are all available through the Investors web pages.
Please note that the information contained on any of Global Crossing’s websites is not incorporated by reference in, or considered to be a part of, any document unless expressly incorporated by reference therein.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR INVESTORS
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval. The proposed amalgamation involving Level 3 Communications, Inc. (“Level 3”) and Global Crossing Limited (“Global Crossing”) announced on April 11, 2011 will be submitted to the stockholders of Level 3 and the stockholders of Global Crossing for their consideration. Level 3 and Global Crossing have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a preliminary joint proxy statement of Level 3 and Global Crossing that also constitutes a preliminary prospectus of Level 3, and may in the future file with the SEC other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction. Level 3 and Global Crossing will each provide the final joint proxy statement/prospectus to its respective stockholders. Investors and security holders are urged to read the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus and any other relevant documents filed with the SEC when they become available, as well as any amendments or supplements to those documents, because they contain and will contain important information about Level 3, Global Crossing and the proposed transaction. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Level 3 and Global Crossing, free of charge at the SEC’s Web Site at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, the joint proxy statement/prospectus, the SEC filings that are or will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Level 3 may be obtained free of charge by directing such request to: Investor Relations, Level 3, Inc., 1025 Eldorado Boulevard, Broomfield, Colorado 80021 or from Level 3’s Investor Relations page on its corporate website at http://www.Level3.com and the joint proxy statement/prospectus, the SEC filings that are or will be incorporated by reference in the joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents filed or to be filed with the SEC by Global Crossing may be obtained free of charge by directing such request to: Global Crossing by telephone at (800) 836-0342 or by submitting a request by e-mail to glbc@globalcrossing.com or a written request to the Secretary, Wessex House, 45 Reid Street, Hamilton HM12 Bermuda or from Global Crossing’s Investor Relations page on its corporate website at http://www.globalcrossing.com.
Level 3, Global Crossing and their respective directors, executive officers, and certain other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in favor of the proposed transaction from the stockholders of Level 3 and from the stockholders of Global Crossing, respectively. Information about the directors and executive officers of Level 3 is set forth in the proxy statement on Schedule 14A for Level 3’s 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 4, 2011 and information about the directors and executive officers of Global Crossing is set forth in the proxy statement on Schedule 14A for Global Crossing’s 2011 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 29, 2011. Additional information regarding participants in the proxy solicitation may be obtained by reading the joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction.
This press release contains statements about expected future events and financial results that are forward looking and subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially, including: the failure to occur of any condition to the closing of the acquisition of Global Crossing by Level 3 and uncertainties as to the timing of the closing; the failure to achieve or any delay in achieving expected synergies and other financial benefits from the acquisition; changes in Global Crossing’s risk profile resulting from the acquisition; limitations on Global Crossing’s financial and operational flexibility that arise under the covenants in the amalgamation agreement that could restrict it from taking advantage of opportunities to strategically enhance its business or improve its capital structure; delays or reductions in purchases from Global Crossing by customers because of their perceived uncertainty about its ability to meet their needs after closing of the acquisition; disruptions in Global Crossing’s business due to current and prospective employees experiencing uncertainty about their future roles with the company and the diversion of their time and attention from ongoing business operations; Global Crossing’s history of substantial operating losses and the fact that, in the near term, funds from operations will not satisfy cash requirements; the availability of future borrowings in an amount sufficient to pay Global Crossing’s indebtedness and to fund its other liquidity needs; legal and contractual restrictions on the inter-company transfer of funds by Global Crossing’s subsidiaries; Global Crossing’s ability to continue to connect its network to incumbent carriers’ networks or maintain Internet peering arrangements on favorable terms; the consequences of any inadvertent violation of Global Crossing’s Network Security Agreement with the U.S. Government; increased competition and pricing pressures resulting from technology advances and regulatory changes; competitive disadvantages relative to competitors with superior resources; political, legal and other risks due to Global Crossing’s substantial international operations; risks associated with movements in foreign currency exchange rates; risks related to restrictions on the conversion of the Venezuelan bolivar into U.S. dollars and to the resultant buildup of a material excess bolivar cash balance, which is carried on Global Crossing’s books at the official exchange rate, attributing to the bolivar a value that is significantly greater than the value that would prevail on an open market; potential weaknesses in internal controls of acquired businesses, and difficulties in integrating internal controls of those businesses with Global Crossing’s own internal controls; exposure to contingent liabilities; and other risks referenced from time to time in Global Crossing’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Global Crossing undertakes no duty to update information contained in this press release or in other public disclosures at any time.
CONTACT GLOBAL CROSSING:
Press Contacts
Michael Schneider
+ 1 973 937 0146
Michael.Schneider@globalcrossing.com
Paula Vivo
Latin America
+ 55 11 3957 2424
Paula.Vivo@globalcrossing.com
Nigel Brown
UK and Europe
+ 44 33 0060 7342
Nigel.Brown@globalcrossing.com
Analysts/Investors Contact
Mark Gottlieb
+ 1 800 836 0342
glbc@globalcrossing.com
GEN/PR1
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