Verizon Business Builds Global IP Network for d'Amico Societa di Navigazione

Reading, England and Milan, Italy, November 30 (ots/PRNewswire) -

- Italian Global Shipping Group Selects Verizon Business as
Private IP Supplier

Verizon Business today announced that it has been chosen to build
a global managed IP network for d'Amico Societa di Navigazione, the
global shipping group and shipowner. The company will link its
operations in Dublin, Genoa, London, Rome, Monaco and Singapore using
a Verizon Business Managed Private IP MPLS network. Verizon Business
has been chosen as the company's strategic supplier in the
development, implementation and management of the new global network,
and will work alongside d'Amico to develop a seamless communication
solution to meet the company's needs.

Founded in 1949 and based in Rome, d'Amico Societa di Navigazione
is a global shipping business developed by one of Italy's leading
family-owned shipping companies. The company currently operates a
fleet of more than 50 tankers and other cargo vessels, with plans to
expand its fleet by an additional 50 per cent over the next six
months. The company needed to ensure that its geographically
dispersed employee base would have secure, reliable access to its
business-critical applications, over a secure and reliable network
platform, to support this planned business growth, without impacting
on existing business relationships.

The company has chosen to work with Verizon Business due to
Verizon Business' position as a global telecommunications player, the
strength of its technology, and the knowledge and expertise of its
employee base. Verizon Business will provide d'Amico with a fully
scalable, managed MPLS network, with any-to-any IP connectivity,
which will support the company's current business needs, as well as
its future plans. Among these, d'Amico is currently considering
e-business and conferencing solutions, as well as a potential future
migration to a VoIP platform, to enhance collaboration but also
achieve cost efficiencies around the world.

Pietro Amorusi, d'Amico's chief information officer, said,
"d'Amico Societa di Navigazione needed to connect all its sites
around the world, mainly the major harbour cities, to support the
next phases of business growth. Verizon Business has developed a
brilliant solution based on a managed private network, which can also
easily be scaled up to meet our future needs. In addition, we believe
that we will be able to achieve major economies of scale by working
with Verizon Business to implement other services, such as VoIP, in
the coming months."

Massimo Peselli, regional spokesperson for Verizon Business Italy,
said, "Our Managed Service Complete suite enables customers such as
d'Amico Societa di Navigazione, whose business is built around global
connectivity, to efficiently share business-critical applications
with secure and consistent network performance for all their offices.
By working with Verizon Business, they are able to focus on their own
business objectives, while we take care of the underlying network
connectivity. However, the increased network visibility that a
Verizon Business Managed Private IP solution provides also means that
they can better support their future business processes and
operations around the globe. We're delighted to be supporting
d'Amico's business growth as their strategic telecommunications
supplier."

About d'Amico Societa di Navigazione

Based in Rome, Italy, d'Amico Societa di Navigazione is a global
shipping company that supports traditional seafaring with a modern
outlook. The company, headed up by two cousins, Paolo and Cesare
D'Amico -- logged net profits of EUR 58.7m (US$71.3m) for the year
ending 2004, compared to EUR 21.8m in 2003. Turnover was EUR 343.2m,
compared with EUR 254.5m in the previous corresponding period.

About Verizon Business

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is
a leading provider of advanced communications and information
technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers
worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced
technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business
delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers
around the world. For more information, visit
www.verizonbusiness.com/.

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ots Originaltext: Verizon Business
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Contact:
Clare Ward, Verizon Business, +44-118-905-3501,
clare.ward@uk.verizonbusiness.com, or Louise Hooton, Hill & Knowlton
Ltd, +44-20-7413-3794, louise.hooton@hillandknowlton.com