LONDON, July 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Global Crossing Limited (NASDAQ: GLBC), 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) 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 http://www.globalcrossing.com for more information
about Global Crossing.
Website Access to Company Information
Global Crossing maintains a corporate website at
http://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