Verizon opens government network ops center

The government may be the first beneficiary of the continuing integration of MCI with Verizon Communications Inc.

With a focus just on its government customers, Verizon has opened the first major network facility since the January acquisition of MCI.

The Government Network Operations and Security Center in northern Virginia has 30,000 square feet and will support managed network services. The facility also includes an emergency command center, briefing center, program-management office and support office space. It is a "cornerstone of our strategy for meeting the federal government's demands for next-generation networking services," said Jerry Edgerton, group president for Verizon Federal.

The center will help the company in its bid for Networx, a $20 billion governmentwide telecommunications contract to be awarded next year, company officials said. Verizon, through the MCI acquisition, is an incumbent on FTS 2001, the contract Networx is replacing.

Verizon ranks No. 14 on Washington Technology's 2006 Top 100 list of the largest government IT contractors.