UK bank Lloyds TSB has signed a major deal with telecoms firm Cable and Wireless to implement a VPN across its 120 sites to speed up customer response times.
The firm, made up of 10,000 users, is replacing its network for the loans division to prioritise customers enquiries.
"By implementing the IP-VPN, the company has increased bandwidth on its network twelve fold, while at the same time achieving cost savings," said Al McMullan, IT infrastructure manager for Lloyds TSB Asset Finance. "The Cable and Wireless IP-VPN was half the price of our current network, while providing twelve times more capacity. We can now gain a competitive advantage by ensuring the highest level of customer service and efficiency."
Lloyds TSB consolidated its four data networks into one and is now planning to use voice over the infrastructure, McMullan said.
The Asset Finance department lends money to business and personal banking customers.
