AT&T, Verizon nab California telecom deals

California has awarded four statewide contracts worth about $350 million annually to AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. for statewide telecommunications services.

The state of California has awarded four statewide contracts worth about $350 million annually to AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. for statewide telecommunications services.

Each company won two services contracts. AT&T of San Antonio, Texas, won services contracts to provide traditional voice and data services and long distance voice services. For its part, Verizon of New York won services contracts to deliver Internet protocol services and to furnish broadband fixed wireless access services.

The California Technology Services and General Services departments awarded the contracts. AT&T Global Services and Verizon Business will deliver the services outlined.

The services contracts are part of the Calnet II contract established to provide telecommunications services to California state and local government agencies. They cover a five-year period and include two one-year extensions.

As many as 160 state and 2,000 local government agencies will receive services through the contracts, the Technology Services Department said.

"Calnet II offers our customers a greater choice in services, including traditional and emerging technologies, stronger terms and conditions and enhanced service level agreements that guarantee a higher quality of service," said P.K. Agarwal, the department's director.