PepsiCo signs IT deal with BT and HP

PepsiCo is to move its local and wide area networks to a high speed IP-based global infrastructure as part of a seven-year deal with BT estimated to be worth $100m.

BT will manage data, LAN, security, conferencing, remote access and internet services across more than 900 locations for PepsiCo's international division and migrate the networks to an IP-based multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) infrastructure.

As part of the deal, BT's strategic partner HP will consolidate PepsiCo's technology infrastructure from a distributed server environment into three global data centres located in Mexico, Singapore and the UK. The data centres will support PepsiCo business operations in more than 60 countries outside Canada and the US.

PepsiCo said it expects to get better cost-efficiency and control from a standardised and "future-proof" communications platform that will allow the company to provide enhanced service levels to employees.