AT&T has been awarded a five-year global networking contract worth nearly $1 billion by General Motors to provide next-generation telecommunications capabilities that would enable General Motors to further integrate its global resources.

The contract expands an existing strategic global relationship in which AT&T provides GM with a global Virtual Private Network (VPN) solution.

AT&T will also be a strategic information technology supplier—providing network-integration management covering all aspects of GM's worldwide telecommunications infrastructure—in order to support GM’s third-generation information technology business model, which is designed to ensure that GM's IT suppliers are working as one around the world.

AT&T’s responsibilities will include managing the performance of key regional telecommunications providers around the world and managing network for participating telephone companies to drive consistent, uniform IT service delivery and support.

AT&T will also continue to collaborate with GM's Information Systems and Services organization to support its global business strategy.