2006

Orange Business Services today announced a new four-year, 3.13 million euro (USD $4 million) deal with Cirque du Soleil to deploy and manage its global network to support each of the troupe’s performance venues around the world, with local support at all dedicated sites and touring shows.

Like a flawless acrobatic performance, deploying these networks allows Cirque du Soleil to deliver an unforgettable customer experience. Using the Orange Business Services global MPLS-based IP VPN and WAN solutions, as well as professional services, each on-site network makes possible the global availability of strategic business applications. All of these services are essential for maintaining reliable communications among worldwide locations and back to Cirque du Soleil’s headquarters in Montreal.

Orange Business Services, which has partnered with Cirque du Soleil for eight years, is also providing a dedicated project manager, as well as service management and Application Performance Analysis, to control all logistics surrounding the global network implementation. This is especially important since the six touring shows move to a new location approximately every six weeks, and it is essential to have complete control over network connections to ensure that sites are up and running on time. Each year Cirque du Soleil visits 20 markets on five continents, and over the next 48 months, will tour more than 125 cities worldwide.

“Deploying our networks on the fly as we travel across the globe presents some unique challenges, especially since we have six shows touring simultaneously,” said Danielle Savoie, vice president of Knowledge Management and Information Technologies at Cirque du Soleil. “Our global infrastructure ensures that on-site ticket offices are up and running, staff is aware of critical performance logistics, and that as we tweak certain elements of each show, we can communicate those changes to the next stop on the tour. We pride ourselves on flexibility, from both an artistic and business point of view, and partner with Orange Business Services because it possesses those same characteristics.”

“Our partnership with Cirque du Soleil perfectly represents the strengths of Orange Business Services,” said Mack Treece, president of the Americas, Orange Business Services. “Our global presence mirrors that of Cirque du Soleil, and our ability to quickly deploy a network removes a significant burden, allowing them to focus on performing the most spectacular shows possible. Like Cirque du Soleil, we strive to deliver an outstanding customer experience through innovative, refreshing and flexible ideas, and we’re proud to extend our long-standing relationship.”

About Cirque du Soleil

Cirque du Soleil is primarily a creative content provider for a wide variety of unique projects. In addition to shows, the Montreal-based company wishes to extend its creative talent to other spheres of activity. While maintaining stringent standards of artistic quality and originality, Cirque du Soleil brings to innovative projects the same energy and spirit that characterizes each of its shows.

Cirque du Soleil is a Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. Since its beginnings in 1984, over 50 million spectators in over a hundred cities on five continents have been thrilled by Cirque du Soleil. In 2006, Cirque du Soleil will present 13 shows simultaneously across the globe. Cirque du Soleil is the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the Emmy, Drama Desk, Bambi, ACE, Gémeaux, Félix and Rose d'Or de Montreux.

About Orange Business Services

Orange Business Services represents the business communications solutions and services provided by the France Telecom Group as of June 1st, 2006. They were previously sold under the France Telecom, Orange, Equant, Etrali, Almerys, EGT, Expertel Consulting, France Telecom Intelmatique, SETIB and Solicia brands.

The offers include converged voice, data and mobile services as well as IT expertise and managed services, all designed to transform business processes and improve productivity. Orange Business Services is present in 166 countries and territories and serves customers in 220.