MORE jobs could be coming to West Malling following a record-busting hi-tech communications deal. British Telecom's £1 billion contract with Unilever is one of the biggest in UK corporate history and is good news for the BT Ignite centre at Kings Hill.

The seven-year contract worth hands BT the management and development of Unilever's entire global communications infrastructure covering 100 countries and 1,400 sites. BT has promised to deliver "best in class" voice, data and mobile services as well as developing new technologies.

The service will be managed from five regional operating centres including BT's facility at 18 Kings Hill Avenue. BT said it could create many more jobs locally but was unable to say just how many. A spokeswoman said: "The contract has just been signed and more specific details are not available at this precise time."

The contract builds on existing relationships between Unilever and BT's Syntegra systems integration business, which provides advanced messaging and security services to Unilever.

Andy Green, chief executive officer of BT Ignite, said: "To be selected as Unilever's global partner is fantastic news and a real achievement. This hugely significant win which incorporates around 80 per cent of revenues driven from outside the UK, allows us to strengthen our international footprint and demonstrates the value of our world class network to major players like Unilever."