The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has tasked Dimension Data, South Africa`s leading IT services provider, with the roll-out and installation of an Internet Protocol (IP) telephony platform for four of its six campuses in KwaZulu-Natal.
The roll-out, completed earlier this year, provides a fully integrated hybrid IP telephony and voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephony platform, which provides for an efficient and consolidated switchboard solution that has dramatically reduced costs.
Many businesses are embracing the move towards IP-based solutions due to the associated cost savings. IP-based solutions remove the interconnect charges, which are paid to telephone operators, between phones by converting voice into data, which is sent via Internet Protocol.
The decision came after it was realised that Durban University of Technology`s old PABX system had reached capacity and became expensive to maintain.
Doc Pillay, ICT Director for Durban University of Technology, says: "We realised that the old PABX system required a proportionately large amount of our budget for maintenance. We were also, as a result of the old technology, paying for calls between departments within the campuses. The decision was made to move our systems over to an IP-based solution, connecting our four campuses and delivering the associated cost savings, manageability and scalability of IP telephony.
"In the future, this solution will form the backbone of various additional IT projects that we are planning for the DUT campuses. We hope one day that we will be able to offer a full VOIP solution to our students using WiFi-enabled phones, which means we are not only teaching technology but truly living it at DUT," says Pillay.
Jay Reddy, Managing Director of Dimension Data KwaZulu-Natal, concludes: "Dimension Data`s experience in this field meant we were able to offer the best solution required with the most up-to-date technology. This large Avaya Campus installation in KwaZulu-Natal enables simplified management, cutting-edge telepresence conferencing capabilities and costs savings, by empowering the university and its students with technology."
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DUT is a vibrant multi-campus tertiary institution at the cutting-edge of higher education, technological training and research. We offer 72 academic programmes (full-time and part-time) in six faculties, on campuses in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. These qualifications range from certificate courses (one year of full-time study) to national diplomas (three years of full-time study) to Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate in Technology degrees. Financial assistance is offered to deserving students to assist in the financing of their studies.
Dimension Data
Dimension Data (LSE:DDT), a specialist IT services and solution provider, helps clients plan, build and support their IT infrastructures. Dimension Data applies its expertise in networking, security, operating environments, storage and contact centre technologies and its unique skills in consulting, integration and managed services to create customised client solutions.