BellSouth and EDS Partner to Revolutionize Telecommunications Engineering

BellSouth Telecommunications, the nation's largest regional Bell operating company, has partnered with EDS to transform its engineering and design processes using an Outside Plant Engineering Design System (OPEDS). This three-year contract aims to cut time-to-market for new products, enhance customer service, and expedite installations. The new system will enable BellSouth to rapidly upgrade its infrastructure, leveraging cutting-edge technology like fiber-optic cables.

Key Takeaways:

• The partnership involves reengineering and automating existing manual processes using OPEDS, a client-server technology-based system.
• The system will integrate all existing paper-based information repositories, creating a single corporate-wide database with real-time data on outside plant locations.
• OPEDS will allow for streamlined online planning and design simulations, facilitating more efficient new installations.
• The contract is led by EDS, with Convergent Group affiliates UGC Consulting and GDS Corporation, ARC Systems Limited, Information + Graphics Systems, and Network Imaging Corporation joining the team.
• UGC Consulting will provide consulting and data engineering services, while GDS Corp. will furnish a software package with automated mapping and Geographic Information Systems capabilities.
• ARC Systems will provide telecommunications applications, and Information + Graphics will provide the DB-Able core technology. Network Imaging Corporation will offer object-enabling technology and automated job management and workflow components.
• BellSouth operates in nine states, serving over 20 million local telephone lines through its local exchange and IntraLATA long distance services.
• EDS, a global information services leader, operates in 40 countries with revenues of $10.05 billion in 1994.

Statistics:

• The partnership will span three years.
• OPEDS will integrate all existing paper-based information repositories.
• The new system will create a single corporate-wide database identifying all current outside plant locations.
• BellSouth serves over 20 million local telephone lines through its local exchange and IntraLATA long distance services.
• EDS operates in 40 countries.
• EDS reported revenues of $10.05 billion in 1994.
• The contract is valued at an undisclosed amount.

Sources:

• PR Newswire, "BellSouth and EDS Partner to Revolutionize Telecommunications Engineering"
• BellSouth Telecommunications, "BellSouth and EDS Announce Partnership"
• EDS, "Global Information Services Leader"
• Global Research, "EDS Revenues Report FY 1994"