Despite the fragile economies of some South East Asian countries Datacraft Asia, a subsidiary of the JSE-listed Dimension Data, has been awarded a number of significant US$-based contracts across the continent. Dimension Data acquired 55% of Datacraft Asia - which operates in 10 Asian countries as well as New Zealand - as part of its 100% acquisition of Datacraft Limited, an IT systems integration company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange, in October 1997. According to Patrick Quarmby, Dimension Data`s international director, many of the contracts were signed just prior to the release of Datacraft Asia`s interim results at end-December, which revealed a 43% revenue increase to US$94,1-million and a 51% profit surge. "The financial benefits of several of the latest contracts should start being reflected in the company`s year-end results, " he adds. Among the latest contracts to be signed was a US$250 000 deal between Datacraft Asia`s Indian subsidiary, Datacraft RPG, and India`s largest personal insurance company, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) which has more than 2 000 branches across the sub-continent. In its initial phase, the contract requires Datacraft RPG to design and implement a wide area network linking LIC`s 74 branches within Mimbai. This network will connect all the branches spread throughout the city to their Divisional Office at Vile Parle. Other branches in Delhi, Chennai, Calcutta and the rest of the country will also eventually be connected. At the other end of the region serviced by Datacraft Asia, the communications and network systems integrator has won a US$1,4-million contract through its New Zealand subsidiary to design and supply a national ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) network for Air New Zealand, linking the airlines seven campus nodes situated in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The objective of Air New Zealand`s new network is to increase bandwidth availability while simultaneously reducing the cost of delivering information within the organisation. Over in Singapore, where Datacraft Asia is listed on the local stock exchange, the company is currently involved in fulfilling a US$1,5-million contract from Creative Technology, the world`s leading provider of PC audio and multimedia solutions, for a new network infrastructure. The ATM and fast Ethernet network is being implemented at Creative`s new corporate headquarters west of Singapore and its first phase which was completed recently, provides effective network communication and other mission-critical applications for approximately 2 000 users. The entire project is scheduled for completion in 1998. Meanwhile in China, Datacraft Asia won a US$300 000 contract from the Shanghai High Court to provide a local private communication network which will connect the district`s High Court and 26 intermediate courts for mission-critical communication needs. Datacraft`s solution allows LAN, voice and fax, video and SNA traffic to be carried together over a single communications line "live" to each court building. The network makes use of the public Digital Data Network service and provides flexibility for future expansion into new technologies such as ISDN and ATM.
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