(Telecompaper) KPN has entered into a partnership with Telekom Austria Group, encompassing ethernet, IP VPN, wavelength and IPT services. The partnership will seek to maximise large traffic and establish an increased presence in Europe, with data services made available for target groups such as international wholesale carriers as well as large business customers. The network connection will be established in Frankfurt with a back-up in Vienna. The IP backbone connects the four most important Internet Exchange Points in Europe, namely Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam and Paris, well as other exchanges. A total of 173 PoPs within 35 countries across Europe and North America will be covered by the backbone. The deal will increase Telekom Austria's local presence in Western Europe via KPN and will allow KPN International and its customers to benefit from the local presence of the Telekom Austria across the CEE region. Common marketing and sales activities are being implemented.