As part of its vision to utilise leading edge technology to deliver a better service to its customers, Absa has appointed PQ Networks, a member of the PQ Africa / Comparex group of companies, to standardise its LAN / Campus technology on a Nortel Networks Unified Network solution.
The revision of the current IBM Nways infrastructure follows IBM`s decision to sell-off the intellectual components of its Nways Network switching technology to Cisco Systems which necessitated Absa to critically review its Campus / LAN strategy. The standardisation on Nortel Networks technology forms part of the total Absa Network strategy and vision for a flexible, reliable, scalable fully end-to-end managed network capable of supporting multi-protocol and multi-media traffic types.
"Absa`s telecommunications needs have changed dramatically over the past couple of years. The forces of change which have directed the Absa network evolution are business demands, new applications and technology advances," comments Hellmut Oellermann, group consultant for telecommunications and distributed computing services at ABSA. "The Unified Network infrastructure will enable us to respond faster to bandwidth upgrades, position us to support multi-protocol and multi-media traffic types and give us more flexibility and a more managed network."
Commenting on the decision to award the technology deployment contract to PQ Networks and Nortel Networks respectively, Oellermann said: "Our decision to appoint PQ Networks to deploy Nortel technology followed an extensive proof of concept exercise during which the Nortel solution fully demonstrated its potential. In addition, the close partnership between PQ Networks and Nortel gives us access to leading edge technology as well as world-class consultancy which add up to a winning combination."
"PQ Africa has a long standing technology relationship with both Absa and Nortel Networks and we are delighted to have been awarded this contract by Absa," comments Etti Poggi, PQ Africa`s executive for Johannesburg.
The proof of concept of the Nortel Networks Campus solution was conducted in a laboratory environment to fully test and demonstrate its potential. Among the specific tests conducted were Voice over IP capability, the ability to integrate with the current IBM Nways product range installed at certain Absa campuses as well as the integration of the Nortel Meridian and Siemens PBX telephony systems as well as IP handsets.
The Campus / LAN technology will be based on Nortel Networks` Accelar 8600 platform, which provides the resilient, application-optimised performance necessary for true data, telephony and video application integration. The Accelar 8600, one of Nortel`s flagship products, is a key enabler of Unified Networks.
"PQ Networks believes in providing technology solutions that directly addresses the business requirements of an organisation," comments Tim Knowles, managing director of PQ Networks. "The Absa group will be ideally positioned to leverage off the converged multi-media infrastructure, enabling them to rapidly deploy unified messaging and other multi-media applications."
Bryan Thompson, business manager of Nortel Networks Enterprise Solutions in South Africa, says: "Absa`s decision to standardise on Nortel Networks equipment for its enterprise-wide networking requirements is a solid endorsement of Nortel`s international leadership position in the convergence of voice, data, video and wireless technology solutions. This contract emphasises the efficiency of our partnership with PQ Networks and we look forward to helping Absa maximise the benefits of this technology from both a customer service and operational perspective."
Absa`s corporate clients will notice improved accessibility as the organisation has more flexibility in connect them, as well as an improved ability to interface with the clients` software protocols. The new infrastructure will also give clients quicker access to their own banking information, as well as improved data security. "We also wanted to give our branch-based decision makers immediate access to decision-support information captured in our data warehouses. The availability of information right at the coalface of client interaction also facilitates devolution of decision-making power from regional and head offices to branches. We like to think of it as empowering our people through better access to information," Oellermann maintains.
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Nortel Networks
Nortel Networks is a global leader in telephony, data, eBusiness and wireless solutions for the Internet. The company had 1999 revenues of US$21.3 billion and serves carrier, service provider and enterprise customers globally. Today, Nortel Networks is creating a high-performance Internet that is more reliable and faster than ever before. It is redefining the economics and quality of networking and the Internet through Unified Networks that promise a new era of collaboration, communications and commerce. Visit Nortel at www.nortelnetworks.com.
PQ Networks
PQ Networks, through the merger to Persetel Networks and Q Data Networks, has become the foremost network systems integrator and solutions provider in South Africa. PQN has established an enviable track record in providing world leading networking solutions encompassing both the wide and local area environs. This incorporates all aspects in the communication technology arena, from Telecommunications infrastructure and Virtual Private Networks to Internet technology and all the related services.
Through direct representation of the world`s top network product manufacturers, including Bay Networks, Cisco, Newbridge Networks, Nortel and other leading manufacturers, PQN provides through effective sales and pre-sales qualification processes, the most appropriate technology and design to meet the customer`s business requirements. PQN is actively supplying competitive and innovative solutions to diverse industries such as finance, retail, insurance, telecommunications, manufacture, travel, utilities and government services.
With a support organisation employing spanning some 33 locations throughout Southern Africa, PQN have the capability to service and maintain the computer networks of companies in all market segments supporting differing geographical and service level requirements. This extensive support organisation and the sophisticated Customer Care Centre enable the outsourcing of network services, such as network management, network operations and maintenance, and bandwidth management.