FT, China Telecom ink partnership agreement

France Telecom (FT) and China Telecom have signed a partnership agreement that will look to deliver improved access and services to FT’s Orange business customers in China, and to the Chinese telco’s business users in Europe. The deal is also designed to provide Wi-Fi roaming services for both company’s customers. It is understood the cooperation deal also encompasses improved access to international cable networks for both carriers, and that the deal could be extended at a later date. In brief, FT has agreed to establish cooperation in internet protocol virtual private network (IP VPN) services across its footprint in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, to allow China Telecom to extend IP VPN services for subsidiaries of Chinese multinational companies. In return, its Chinese counterpart has agreed to provide managed outsourced and field services to Orange customers in mainland China to allow the Paris-based company to improve IP VPN services to its enterprise customers across the Asia-Pacific region.