CBP chooses AT&T

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, has awarded AT&T a task order worth up to $20 million to provide a voice networking solution for the agency, according to PR-USA.NET.

CBP is responsible for protecting the country's borders at and between the official ports of entry. AT&T will serve as the primary network voice services provider to CBP for the task order, which was awarded via the General Services Administration's Networx Universal programme.

Networx Universal is a 10-year $20 billion contract vehicle that allows AT&T Government Solutions, a business unit within AT&T, and Networx contract holders to provide a full range of network and telecommunications services to federal government agencies.

Qwest Communications International has a new, exclusive three-year agreement worth more than $3 million with Watsco to provide Qwest iQ Networking services and high-speed data solutions, according to PR-inside.com.

Watsco is the largest independent distributor of heating, air conditioning and refrigeration products in the US.

Watsco claims to have chosen Qwest for wide area network and multi-protocol label switching technologies. Using a combination of Qwest iQ Networking, private and Internet port technology, CPE solutions and long-distance service, Qwest designed and is implementing a national network to connect more than 360 Watsco subsidiary sites.

The main issue Cisco is currently facing in Sri Lanka is recruiting employees with the necessary qualifications for networking, Cisco Sri Lanka country manager Rajkumar Natarajan said, reports Daily Mirror.

"It's not that they are not qualified enough but the profile of people required are not available."

He further revealed that the political situation prevailing in the island is another major challenge that affects the company. Delving into the matter of investments by Cisco into the country, Natarajan stated that although the exact amount is difficult to configure, it is more than sufficient to support the entire installation of the company.