TELECOMS specialist Executel has completed a £30,000 contract for the UK's leading dairy farmers' co-operative.

The Gateshead company has provided the Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB) with Voice over IP (Internet Protocol) telephony at its site in Blaydon, Newcastle.

The installation allows the delivery of voice and data traffic over a single network and enables the use of wireless phones.

Executel also installed a smaller-scale system for the group at its dairy processing site in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

Steve Watson, telecommunications manager for DFB, said: "It is universally recognised that Voice over IP is the future for all large organisations' telephony.

"Therefore, Executel has supplied us with the backbone required, in an ideal location within the company's IT infrastructure, to take full advantage of this."

Michael O'Sullivan, account manager for Executel, which is based in Gateshead, said: "This contract win was a major coup for us, which further secures our reputation as a cutting-edge telecommunication solutions provider."

Established in 1997 by North-East entrepreneur Tim Price, Executel is the region's leading supplier of telecom solutions with a portfolio of more than 1,500 clients.

Last month, the company reported a record increase in turnover to £2.9m for the six months from September and said it was on target to break through the £10m barrier by 2008.

Profit increased 35 per cent to £1.49m in the six months.

The company, which employs 30 people, is planning to take on another seven staff this year.