British Telecommunications Group (BT) and Tata Communications Limited have signed a major voice services agreement that will allow two of the world's largest providers of voice and IP services to mutually benefit from Shared resources as part of a global supply arrangement.

Through the five-year agreement, Tata communications will become BT's primary supplier of International Direct Dial (IDD) and other voice termination services outside BT's own footprint countries.

While BT will become Tata Communications' main distribution channel for its IDD traffic into the UK, expanding into markets across Europe as the relationship matures.

Apart from this, BT will also have access to Tata Communications' world-class routing capabilities and on-line management systems providing greater economies of scale that will improve BT's competitiveness in the international calls market.

Market experts believe that the relationship will allow BT and Tata Communications to benefit from their respective extensive global networks and advantageous cost structures.

The scrip of Tata Communication closed today at Rs 459, marginally up compared to its previous close. The counter has made 52-week-high and low of Rs 651 and Rs
320 respectively.