Verizon Business Delivers Voice, Network Services Nationwide to the U.S. Postal Service

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – The U.S. Postal Service has selected Verizon Business to provide an estimated $16.4 million worth of network services under the federal Networx Universal communications program.

Verizon Business will be the primary provider of long-distance and calling-card services for the agency’s nearly 166,000 lines serving 34,000 locations nationwide, under a 10-year agreement valued at $10 million. In addition, the company was awarded a new task order valued at $6.4 million to upgrade about 100 data circuits to an Internet protocol (IP) network based on multi-protocol label switching (MPLS).

“Verizon Business has a long history of working with the Postal Service to meet its critical mission,” said Susan Zeleniak, group president, Verizon Federal, a sales organization within Verizon Business dedicated to serving federal government customers. “Whether employees are processing the mail or picking up the phone, Verizon Business is looking forward to building on that relationship in the decade ahead.”

Verizon Business is providing the new services under the U.S. General Services Administration’s Networx Universal contract. Previously, Verizon Business had provided voice services to the agency under the GSA’s Federal Telecommunications Service 2001 (FTS2001) contract, the predecessor to the Networx program. Networx is among the largest federal telecommunication contracts ever awarded by the GSA, providing federal agencies with a common vehicle for purchasing a comprehensive set of networking and technical services.

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 is the largest provider of communications services to the U.S. federal government and one of the largest providers of advanced communications and information technology services globally. The company offers local-to-global network capabilities coupled with a broad range of telecommunications products and services -- including advanced Internet protocol (IP) services, 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), operates the world's most connected public IP network and uses its industry-leading global-network capabilities to offer large-business and government customers an unmatched combination of security, reliability and speed. The company integrates advanced IP communications and information technology (IT) products and services to deliver leading enterprise solutions including managed services, security, mobility, collaboration and professional services. These solutions power innovation and enable the company’s customers to do business better. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com.

####

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.