Equant Provides Network Services to Merck KGaA

January 23, 2003 -- Data and IP services provider Equant (Equant.com) announced on Tuesday that it has signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar contract extension with pharmaceutical company Merck KGaA to continue managing and monitoring the company's global network through 2004.

More than 100 of Merck KGaA's global locations are currently connected using Equant LAN Access to create a private LAN to WAN data network, managed by Equant. Merck KGaA uses the secure network to exchange critical data and run applications like SAP R3, Citrix, Lotus Notes and a proprietary document management system related to the licensing of medicine.

"As one of the global leaders in life sciences with operations around the globe and demanding network needs, Merck KGaA and Equant are perfect partners," says Michel Picaud, Equant's senior vice president, Central and Eastern Europe. "We remain committed to providing Merck KGaA with the best data services and network management in the industry."