FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Report of Foreign Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the month of October, 2005
COLT TELECOM GROUP plc
(Translation of Registrant's Name into English)
Beaufort House
15 St. Botolph Street
London
EC3A 7QN
England
_________________________________
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F..X... Form 40-F.....
(Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934)
Yes ..... No ..X...
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the Registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________)
This Form 6-K shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form F-3 (Reg. No.333-05972), in the
Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Reg. No.333-8362)
COLT announces major contract with Commerzbank
One of the largest contracts from a financial institution in COLT's history -
worth over EUR 15 million in revenues
COLT, a leading European provider of business communications, today announced it
has been awarded a major new contract, worth more than EUR15 million in revenues
over five years, by Commerzbank AG, one of Germany's largest banks. The
agreement, one of the largest in COLT's 13-year history, will see COLT manage
and upgrade a major part of Commerzbank's national and European communications
infrastructure delivering higher speed communications at lower costs.
Jean-Yves Charlier, Chief Executive Officer at COLT, said, "We welcome the
strengthening of our relationship with Commerzbank as a strong indicator of our
leadership position in providing communications services to the Financial sector
across Europe."
COLT, Germany's second largest alternative fixed line operator, will manage the
communications network for approximately 190 Commerzbank sites across Germany
and set up and manage a significant part of Commerzbank's national wide area
network (WAN) backbone - 11 sites throughout the country. Rollout is scheduled
for completion in late 2006. COLT will also continue to operate the majority of
the Commerzbank European network. The bank's offices in Dublin, London,
Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt will all be
supported by COLT's owned and operated 20,000km European network.
COLT was selected over other suppliers because of the reach and quality of its
fibre network which supports, either directly or through partners, more than
50,000 businesses across Europe. COLT will connect Commerzbank's 11 backbone
sites across Germany with redundant 155 Mbit/s lines based on proven SDH
technology. Furthermore, Commerzbank's 190 branch offices are interconnected via
COLT's ATM network using secure VPN services.
For individual branches Commerzbank opted for a multi-vendor approach and
selected three different communications providers. Roland Schneider, Network
Services Manager at Commerzbank, explains: "We took deliberate advantage of the
competition between providers. Our positive experience with COLT in the past
meant that we chose COLT in all areas where our branches could be connected up
to its own network. COLT responded to our requirements with the utmost
flexibility. We were very impressed by both this responsiveness and the
cost-efficiency offered by COLT."
Wolfgang Essig, Managing Director, Germany at COLT added: "Commerzbank is one of
our key clients and has benefited from our services since 1996. I am therefore
delighted at this major new order and consolidation of our long-term
relationship."
COLT provides the communications infrastructure that underpins more than 1,000
financial organisations in 13 European countries. Customers include the world's
top 25 financial institutions, Europe's top seven stock exchanges and the top
three global providers of financial information.
About COLT
COLT is a leading European provider of business communications. COLT specialises
in providing data, voice and managed services to midsize and major businesses
and wholesale customers. It has more than 50,000 customers across all industry
sectors. COLT owns and operates a 13-country, 20,000km network that includes
metropolitan area networks in 32 major European cities with direct fibre
connections into 10,000 buildings and 12 COLT data centres.
COLT Telecom Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (CTM.L) and NASDAQ
(COLT). Information about COLT and its services can be found at www.colt.net
For more information, please contact:
Gill Maclean
COLT
Head of Corporate Communications
+44 (0) 20 7863 5314
gill.maclean@colt.net
Rebecca English
COLT
UK PR Manager
+44 (0) 20 7390 3160
rebecca.english@colt.net
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this Current Report on Form-6K to be signed on its
behalf by undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Date: 6th of October, 2005 COLT Telecom Group plc
By: ___Jane Forrest___
Jane Forrest
Company Secretary