Equant Awarded Multi-Million Dollar Contract By World’s #No. 1 Dairy Export Marketing Organization
~ Equant to deliver end-to-end communications solutions to the New Zealand Dairy Board ~
Auckland, New Zealand November 1 2000– Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Paris Bourse: EQU) today announced it has been selected to
build and manage a global network for the New Zealand Dairy Board (NZDB), connecting 107 sites in 40 countries with
end-to-end communications solutions to improve business efficiency and information flow.
Under the multi-year, multi-million-dollar contract, Equant will provide a full range of network services for NZDB,
including data delivery via frame relay, web hosting, Internet access, and global dial services.
Equant’s solution will enable NZDB to reduce delivery costs, improve the profitability and marketability of its products
and services and meet customer requirements in a timely manner. NZDB employees also will gain advanced ability to share
applications via common servers and receive the latest enhanced information from their intranet sites.
New Zealand is one of the world’s largest producers of milk products and NZDB’s prime function is to market all dairy
products manufactured there for export. It, and indeed the whole dairy industry in New Zealand, places a high priority
on both research and development, and quality.
After reviewing the various solutions offered, the Board selected Equant over and above several other multi-national
telecommunications companies who were also bidding for the contract. This was due to its ability to offer seamless
network coverage and customise a network design to provide all offices – even those in remote locations – with timely
access to information at the regional head offices using a single point of contact.
Equant spent more than a year working with NZDB prior to the award of the contract to gain an understanding of their
business and communications needs. As a result, Equant was able to offer a customised, flexible and robust solution
which impressed Rob Vazquez, global manager Architecture, Information Systems, who was brought in especially to
supervise this project. Equant will continue to work closely with him to fine-tune a network design that meets the
Board’s unique networking requirements.
The fact that Equant owns and operates the world’s largest private network – reaching even remote locations in over 220
countries – supported by multi-cultural, multi-lingual technologically experienced staff, also helped to clinch the
deal.
Equant will invest in a highly skilled and experienced team of network architects and project managers to ensure the
smooth execution of this project. Network implementation will commence in November and is anticipated to be completed
within four months by March 2001.
“Equant’s demonstration of commitment to provide us a customised solution offering was impressive, and refreshing,” said
Peter Schuyt, global financial controller for NZDB. “They clearly understood our demands for a cost-effective and
scalable solution, and were able to meet our needs precisely. To that end, the Board has also recognised Equant as an
exclusive preferred supplier.”
Said Bill Padfield, senior vice president of Equant Asia Pacific Australasia, “This win demonstrates Equant’s intrinsic
abilities to quickly and efficiently support a multi-market solution. We are delighted to be a part of NZDB’s drive
towards global excellence with a continued commitment in providing customers with services that meet and exceed their
expectations.”
###
About the New Zealand Dairy Board
With annual sales of approx. NZ$7.7 billion and over 1,300,000 tonnes of dairy produce manufactured for export, the New
Zealand Dairy Board is the country's largest single exporter and the world's largest dairy export marketing
organisation. It oversees all dairy companies in New Zealand to ensure their manufacturing programmes match the demands
of the international marketplace. For additional information, see www.nzdb.com.
About Equant
Equant operates the world’s largest network, providing voice, data, Internet, integration, and application services to
companies around the globe. The network reaches key business centres in more than 220 countries and territories. For
additional information, see www.equant.com.
This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements relating to Equant that involve risks and
uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual
future events or results. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Equant with the SEC, specifically the most
recent filing on Form 20-F, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those
contained in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, risks relating to Equant’s history of
operating losses, the unpredictability of growth in Equant’s markets, Equant’s rapid growth, changing technology,
uncertain and changing regulatory restrictions, Equant’s international operations, dependence on suppliers, network
security issues, competition, and volatility of Equant’s stock price. All forward-looking statements are based on
information available to Equant on the date hereof, and Equant assumes no obligation to update such statements.
###
Equant Media Relations Equant Investor Relations
United States United States
Marty Filipowski James Armstrong
+1.678.346.3179 +1.770.303.3754
marty.filipowski@equant.com james.armstrong@equant.com
Dara Hailes Europe
+1.678.346.3178 Ashley Rayfield
dara.hailes@equant.com + 44 (0) 20.8321.4581
ashley.rayfield@equant.com
APA France
Shirley Ng Bertrand Deronchaine
+65.335.6730 +33.1.4641.9363
shirley.ng@equant.com bertrand.deronchaine@equant.com
New Zealand Dairy Board Media Relations
Neville Martin
+64.4.471.8300
neville.martin@nzdb.com