The number two unit of Verizon Communications, Inc. has announced that it has been awarded the lion’s share of a 10-year contract that will be worth approximately $678.5 million to Verizon. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded this contract out of a total $20 billion contract award. Verizon indicates that its services will help disaster response speed by providing Internet protocol, security services and emergency communications services. 

There are 22 agencies within the Homeland Security department that share their separate networks on a common IP network.

AT&T Inc.’s business unit, AT&T Government Solutions, was also awarded a $292 million contract by the Department of Homeland Security to be its secondary network service provider in the Eastern and Western regions.