FCI hands IP VPN contract to Vanco

NEWS Connector manufacturer Framatone Connectors International (FCI) has said it will slash its network costs by deploying an xDSL-based public IP virtual private network (VPN) across its European sites. FCI’s existing private network will be replaced as part of a three-year deal with networks supplier Vanco, which will design, install and manage the new IP VPN. The VPN will be secured using NetScreen firewalls and by creating IPSec tunnels between FCI’s European sites. Stéphane Senkowski, director of information systems at FCI, said using one supplier would reduce costs while maintaining service levels and technical performance to each region and country. “The fact that we would be using a single provider with full responsibility for the network and resolution of any network-related problem was another major factor in our decision,” he said in a statement. Vanco will manage the entire network operation at FCI across 12 European sites, including network migration, design of a multi-operator network architecture and delivery of service. Financial terms were not disclosed.