FirstGroup Selects Global Crossing’s WAN

The UK’s largest transport operator, FirstGroup, has selected glbc for a nationwide secure WAN.  I must admit that from this side of the Atlantic, I actually thought ‘transport operator?  I wonder if they own fiber or lease wavelengths’.  But of course I soon found that FirstGroup specializes in transporting people and things rather than mere photons.  Their business include a quarter of the passenger rail network in the UK as well as a host of bus services in both the US and the UK.  

The £8.2, four year contract will span some 700 sites, and key elements include Global Crossing’s managed security solutions and implementation project management.  700 is a lot of sites, and a solid WAN is critical to the operation of a modern transport network.  It’s not a new win though, as FirstGroup has leveraged Global Crossing’s managed voice services for some time.    It’s more of an upgrade, bringing data networks into the fold with an eye on a converged IP network down the line somewhere.

According to the PR, a key differentiator for Global Crossing on this deal was its existing experience with networks for railroads, including a similar 800 site deployment – and I’m curious who that one was with.  I didn’t find that one in a quick search – it’s probably not one that has been announced – but I did find this 200 site one with National Express Group a couple of years ago.  The company serves some 90% of rail operators in the UK, so it is obviously one of the company’s core markets there.  That presence surely derives from the former Racal assets.

If you haven't already, please take our Reader Survey! Just 3 questions to help us better understand who is reading Telecom Ramblings so we can serve you better!

Categories: Internet Backbones