Novell ensures BT's customers will have secure access to its next-generation network

Issued by Emerging Media Communications for Novell
Johannesburg, 31 Oct 2006

Novell has announced a significant new contract with BT to manage the digital profiles and identities of millions of customers expected to use BT's Next Generation 21st Century Network (21CN).

The Novell directory and identity solution set will be used to build the profile capability of 21CN. The solution provides the 21CN infrastructure with the common identity information required to integrate voice, data, broadband, mobility, on-demand video and ICT services. As a result, BT will have the ability to quickly and seamlessly provision new services, reduce systems administration and improve customer satisfaction.

"The 21CN is the world's most radical next-generation network transformation programme," said Mike Galvin, director of portfolio infrastructure, BT Group. "We are moving our business model from managing multiple networks to a single network delivering multiple services. We are already using Novell's identity management capabilities for our Corporate Meta Directory services - it's a proven solution that we knew could scale to the extremes required for a customer-facing profile store."

For customers, Novell's directory and identity solution will serve as a foundation for secure authentication across 21CN for existing applications and services. In the future, customers will have the ability to access a broader range of services, such as video telephony, video on demand, WiFi access and corporate VPN access. The carrier-class solution set provided by Novell is based on a number of technologies, including Novell Identity Manager and Novell eDirectory.

"BT's 21CN programme is set to put it at the forefront of innovation worldwide, releasing the full potential of next-generation communications services for its customers in the UK and overseas," said Tom Francese, Novell executive vice-president for worldwide sales and president, Novell EMEA. "Novell's identity management capabilities will give BT's consumers and business customers the ability to easily and reliably access a wide range of feature-rich and cost-effective communications services - ultimately improving the quality of people's personal and professional lives."

Novell

Novell, Inc (Nasdaq: NOVL) delivers Software for the open enterprise. With more than 50 000 customers in 43 countries, Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure and integrate their technology environments by leveraging best-of-breed, open standards-based software. With more than 20 years of experience, 4 700 employees, 5 000 partners and support centres around the world, Novell helps customers gain control over their IT operating environment while reducing cost. More information about Novell can be found at http://www.novell.com.

BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications solutions and services operating in 170 countries. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and Internet products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, Openreach, BT Retail and BT Wholesale.

In the year ended 31 March 2006, BT Group's revenue was lb19,514 million with profit before taxation of lb2,040 million.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt.

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Novell ensures BT's customers will have secure access to its next-generation network

State-of-the-art directory and identity solution deployed.