Nortel and BT ink enterprise deal

Financial basketcases of the world unite

Despite filing for protection from bankruptcy earlier this year, Canadian manufacturer Nortel today announced a four year deal to supply BT's enterprise customers with networking gear.

Nortel's precarious financial position doesn't seem to bother BT Global Services convergence chief Lewis Lyell, who described the deal as "very good news for our customers".

Nortel said that despite the ongoing carve-up of its assets by administrators and bankers, it was "confident that the products and services it supplies will continue to be supported without impacting customers for the foreseeable future".

The pair have traded together for 15 years.

Global Services has its own financial problems. The outsourcing division was responsible for the BT Group making a quarterly net loss last week, after failed contracts and restructuring charges contributed to a £1.6bn write down. ®