MBDA extends IT outsourcing contract

MBDA, a missile systems company, has extended its IT outsourcing contract with CSC, reports Defpro.news.

The new contract extends the companies' long-standing relationship, which began in the UK in 1994, until December 2014 if all options are exercised

This contract was awarded to CSC during the company's fiscal 2011 first quarter that ended on 2 July. Under the new agreement, CSC will continue to provide MBDA with a comprehensive range of IT services, including infrastructure and applications management.

The UK government could be set to invest more in external private companies for tech projects, following comments made by the minister of state for universities and science, says IT Pro Portal.

During a speech at London's Royal Institution, David Willets said he is keen to pursue projects like that of Skynet, the UK's biggest space project system, which provides secure satellite telecommunications for the armed forces.

As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Defence bought a service from space company Astrium and buys extra capability when required. Astrium is also permitted to sell spare bandwidth to other government departments.

Infosys Technologies has reported a 2.4% decline in its first quarter net profit, missing analysts' expectations, but raised its outlook for the current fiscal year, reflecting the software services exporters' confidence in a sustained recovery in demand for outsourcing services, Total Telecom reports.

The Indian IT sector is fast recovering from the effects of the global economic slowdown, which had led customers to scrap or delay projects and seek lower rates for products and services.

Infosys, the country's second-largest software exporter by sales and the first major IT firm to report results every quarter, sets the benchmark for companies such as larger rival Tata Consultancy Services and smaller Wipro.