Telecommunications news roundup

Sprint offers MTIPS signing bonus

Now that it’s been awarded a Managed Trusted IP Services modification to its Networx Enterprise contract from the General Services Administration, Sprint Solutions Inc. is offering to sweeten the pot.

For any domestic MTIPS port/access order placed with Sprint before June 30, 2010, the company will post a one-time credit equal to one month’s port and access monthly recurring costs (MRC) on the agency’s first available invoice when the port is installed. For international MTIPS service ordered before Dec. 31, Sprint will post a one-time credit equal to the lower of one month’s port and access charge or twice the port MRC on an agency’s first available invoice when the port is installed.

Level 3 secures new $220M note

Networx Enterprise vendor Level 3 Communications Inc. increased its borrowing by $220 million this month, thereby expanding its $1.4 billion senior secured credit facility.

The loan, which will yield about $214 million, comes at an interest rate equal to the London Interbank Offered Rate — minimum 3 percent — plus 850 points. LIBOR is set daily based on bank rates in the London money market and is used to determine the prices of many financial derivatives.

Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services assigned a B+ rating to the new loan, according to an Associated Press report.

Verizon unveils security compliance tool

Networx Universal and Enterprise vendor Verizon unveiled a new tool this month to help companies and government agencies track their security activities against relevant standards and regulations.

Compliance ScoreCard is an enhanced online dashboard and part of Verizon’s Security Management Program, which analyzes security programs and generates a score ranging from 0 percent to 100 percent.

Although the application is not available under Networx, government agencies are among the 1,000 organizations that have contracted with Verizon to review their information security measures, company officials said. Only about half of the organizations earn SMP certification, which indicates a strong commitment to information security.