It was confirmed today that leading business communications solutions provider, Alcatel Business Systems, has won the tender to provide a state-of-the-art business communications solutions network for the presidency.
The tender was originally issued in 1999, then withdrawn and subsequently re-issued. Alcatel Managing Director, Martin Baak, ascribed Alcatel`s success in winning the tender to the fact that ABS exceeded the tender requirements.
Baak added that ABS not only provides a complete range of world-class business communications solutions that features the latest international state-of-the-art technology, but that its technological offerings are enhanced by its expertise in providing highly cost-effective, world-class systems design, project management and service solutions.
The R4.8 million project will provide for a centralised, fully digital, total communication and network management solution (equipment, voice, data and category 6 cabling), with total transparency between the six sites (among others Tuynhuys in Cape Town, the Union Buildings in Pretoria). Specialised consoles at the two main offices will accommodate blind operators. The network is designed on an Alcatel Gigabit Switched Backbone, and 10/100Mb/s switched connectivity to the desktop offering complete QoS for Voice traffic. Making use of Alcatel`s LAN/WAN integrated switching technologies to interlink the different Buildings across the Wide Area Network.
The system will provide ease-of-use advanced features and functionality for end-users. Unified messaging will provide total message management by integrating multimedia messages (voice mails, fax mails and e-mails), on one platform with full remote connectivity. The full category 6 cabling solution (providing enhanced speed and bandwidth), will be the first of its kind installed in a government office and in South Africa and will take into account the fact that the Union Buildings and Tuynhuys are national monuments (restricting cabling installation options). The installation will follow a phased approach with project teams from ABS and government working closely to ensure a highly efficient implementation.
The Presidency`s current systems are not upgradeable to serve the increased number of users, thus making it difficult to assess actual telephone costs, but the new system will enable it to better assess and manage costs within the office. The inclusion of leased cost routing alone will represent a 25% cost saving, while the state-of-the-art functionality will represent further cost-savings by dramatically improving the efficiency and productivity of the office.
Alcatel Business Systems (ABS) opens the door to the world of information technology through its range of state-of-the-art business communications solutions that provide innovative and total solutions to today`s business needs. Through its alliance with Alcatel France, Alcatel Business Systems offers the latest business communication technology to South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Alcatel Business Systems ascribes to the highest service standards that complement its highly skilled team of technical experts who can design large and complex communication solutions to suit every organisation`s unique requirements.
For more information, visit the Alcatel Business Systems Web site at alcatel.co.za or, contact Head Office at Johannesburg on telephone (011) 345 3000.
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