BT, a leading provider of communication services and solutions for corporate and the public administration in Italy, and DHL Express Italy have signed an agreement for the supply of communication services.

BT Italy will manage and develop the DHL Express's domestic data transmission network connecting its more than 180 Italian offices, seven contact centres as well as providing voice services.

The three-year agreement involves a switch from traditional voice to VoIP (Voice over IP)-based services, including supply of 3,000 next-generation IP Phones.

BT Italy will also supply a new contact centre platform - developed in co-operation with Cisco - which can manage the more than 1,100 operator desks spread among DHL Express's current seven contact centres in Italy. Services for both VoIP and contact centres will be supplied through a centralised platform hosted within BT's data centres in Milan and Rome.

"The managed service solution is BT Italy's response to our needs for technological innovation and communication cost reduction", said Mr Fausto Forti, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express Italy. "The Italian project, which was approved by Deutsche Post World Net's central office, will be followed up closely for possible extensions, if any."