Esat BT has secured one of the largest telecom contracts on the Irish market with a seven-year contract to manage Bank of Ireland’s nationwide network. It is understood that the scope of the contract comprises all of the bank’s data, voice, internet and data recovery requirements.
The contract follows hot on the heels with a €100m contract signed last year to rollout Hutchison’s 3G network in Ireland.
The chief information officer of Bank of Ireland, Cyril Dunne, said: “This partnership builds on the successful existing relationship between ourselves and Esat BT, and gives the group access to a tremendous range of capabilities in the fast-changing technology arena. It is a key platform in our strategy of developing a world-class infrastructure, whilst actively managing our cost base.”
The contract with Bank of Ireland follows a major €500m IT outsourcing deal last year with HP, which sparked a major dispute with the Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) over the transfer of Bank of Ireland workers to the payroll of HP. It is understood that a small number of Bank of Ireland networks employees will transfer to the Esat BT team as part of the deal.
Both HP and Esat BT are working closely together to implement the seven-year plan.
Esat BT will focus on the standardisation of technologies across the Bank of Ireland Group, with the deployment of cutting edge data technology like MPLS and IP telephony, with the view to boosting technology and lowering costs.
By John Kennedy
