Verizon Business Delivers Advanced Managed IP Network for U.S. Postal Service

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Business has completed the design and implementation of a new fully managed Internet protocol-based network for the United States Postal Service, consolidating three previously distinct networks to control costs and consolidate bandwidth while bringing the benefits of advanced IP services.

Verizon Business was successful in competing for the USPS PITN Network Upgrade Project, valued at $60 million and covering 30 months, to build and manage the new Postal Information Technology Network (PITN). The project includes the redesign, upgrade and management of network services for approximately 300 mail-processing facilities; upgrades to the existing information technology administrative network; and the design, implementation and management of new network services at 188 U.S. Postal Inspection Service locations.

Verizon Business will continue to provide the Postal Service with a variety of managed network services through a network operations center (NOC) in Cary, N.C.  With the PITN award, Verizon Business will manage more than 30,000 devices and more than 17,000 wide-area network circuits for the Postal Service.

"Public trust in the mail system is critical, and this is another case where Verizon Business expertise and technology are helping the Postal Service serve its customers, whether by tracking a package or helping to reduce mail fraud," said Susan Zeleniak, group president, Verizon Federal,  the sales organization within Verizon Business dedicated to serving federal government customers.   "Verizon Business continues to work with our customers to implement advanced technologies to meet their current and future needs."

As part of the project, Verizon Business will also help the United States Postal Inspection Service migrate from its existing frame relay network to a next-generation IP network based on multi protocol label switching (MPLS).  This new network implements quality of service (QoS) routing to incorporate advanced IP-based security features designed to protect and prioritize sensitive law enforcement communications.  These include push-to-talk radio over IP, live video multicast service and IT applications supporting critical services such as background checks and incident response.

In addition, the company is migrating large USPS mail processing facilities and the Postal Service administrative network to a new more robust network with multiple layers of redundancy to provide resilient network connections for USPS business-critical mail processing systems. 

The critical data traffic will ride on the Verizon Business vBNS+ (Very High Performance Backbone Network Service) network, which is dedicated primarily to government and educational institutions with high-performance network requirements.  This new postal network also incorporates the latest in security by leveraging Group Encrypted Transport Virtual Private Network (GET VPN) technology to provide any-to-any connectivity between remote Inspection Service sites without the need to go through a central hub, thus reducing overall bandwidth requirements, controlling costs and providing rapid scalability.

Verizon Business has a long history with the Postal Service.  Through the U.S. Postal Service Managed Network Services (MNS) contract, awarded in 1997, the company established one of the world's largest private networks for the Postal Service.  This state-of-the-art network, which Verizon Business manages round-the-clock, 365 days a year, supports many aspects of the Postal Service, from operations to administration. 

In addition to helping the Postal Service efficiently and cost-effectively deliver mail, the network also helps the Postal Service inform and manage its nearly 700,000 employees, one of the largest civilian workforces in the nation.  Postal Service employees use the network to store and distribute documents, stay current on the latest internal developments, and augment customer service efforts at more than 37,000 Postal Service locations.

Verizon Business, one of the largest providers of communications services to the U.S. federal government, serves virtually every federal agency.  Verizon Business is one of the largest global providers of advanced data, Internet and voice communications services.  Verizon Business offers local-to-global-to-local network capabilities coupled with a broad range of telecommunications products and services, including managed network services and systems integration, to all levels of government.  With this broad portfolio of services, Verizon Business can provide federal agencies with one-stop shopping for their communications or connectivity needs.  The company has built the next-generation services that are helping to transform the way government customers -- and their constituents -- do business.

About Verizon Business
Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large-business and government customers worldwide.  Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced communications, security and other professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world.  For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

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