U.S. Department of Defense Selects Verizon Business for Data and Voice Services

The U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization (DITCO) will be supported by Verizon (News - Alert) Business, providing a broad range of data and advanced voice services through two agreements worth as much as $1.12 billion. The services will be provided under the federal Networx contracting program.

 

DITCO contracted the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) with Verizon Business (News - Alert) in a Networx Fair Opportunity conducted in June 2008 to provide Defense Department agencies data services including network-based Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network services based on multi protocol label switching; Internet protocol services; asynchronous transfer mode and wireless and point-to-point private line for existing services. This agreement is valued at approximately $752 million.

 

DISA provides real-time information technology (IT) and communications support to the president, vice president, secretary of defense and the military services including the combatant commands.

 

In Networx Fair Opportunity held in February 2008, DITCO established Verizon would act as the primary provider for voice services to help more than 700,000 users at military locations worldwide communicate and collaborate effectively. Long-distance, toll-free, calling-card, ISDN (integrated services digital network) and video-teleconferencing are among the services that will provided.

 

“As a long-time provider for DITCO, we have seen the government's needs for secure global communications evolve over the years, and we look forward to helping keep it on the cutting edge of advanced telecommunications technology and the IP evolution," said Susan Zeleniak, group president, Verizon Federal, a sales organization within Verizon Business dedicated to serving federal government customers. "As the leading provider of communications to the federal government, we have unmatched experience helping critical agencies meet their vital missions."

 

Verizon has been providing voice and data services to DITCO under the GSA's (News - Alert) Federal Telecommunications Service (FTS) 2001 contract, Networx’s predecessor.