SBC Communications Inc. announced that it has awarded a multi-million dollar, multi-year contract to Amdocs to support Project Lightspeed, the SBC initiative to expand fiber optics deeper into neighborhoods to deliver Internet Protocol or IP-based TV, voice and broadband services.

Amdocs will provide the SBC companies with a range of services to ensure the best possible customer service, as well as its IP (Internet Protocol) Convergence solution. The Amdocs IP Convergence solution is based on the Amdocs billing, customer relationship management (CRM), ordering and payment mediation products, combined with Amdocs consulting and systems integration services.

SBC companies will work with Amdocs to provide a consistent customer service experience at all touch points, including via the Web, where Amdocs Self Service will help provide a safe and secure online environment to order or pay for services.

The SBC Project Lightspeed is a $4 billion capital initiative to build an advanced, IP-based network to deliver IP-based TV, super high-speed broadband and IP voice services by deploying fiber-to-the-neighborhood and fiber-to-the-premises technologies. The company expects the network to reach 18 million households, as part of its initial deployment, by the end of 2007. The company plans to offer the first set of products under the U-versesm brand in late 2005 or early 2006.