Nortel Networks has appointed the DNS Group, a division of Dimension Data Network Services, as the first South African reseller of its PicoNode Combo "Corporate GSM network in a box".
Targeted at the corporate market, the PicoNode Combo is said to offer a complete and affordable GSM network in a single PC-sized cabinet. It is designed to control and redirect cell phone calls made within designated areas - for example the office complex, factory floor or assembly plant.
Should a cell number be called that is operational within a designated area, the call will be `bounced back` off the PicoNode and redirected to that user, cutting out the GSM network and the cost associated with that call.
The product is designed to scale up from less than 100 subscribers to more than 4000, and is particularly suitable for in-building corporate GSM services and deployment by network operators into remote rural areas.
Malcolm Bayes, Nortel Networks vice president Sales, Service Provider Solutions, Africa describes the global agreement with Dimension Data Holdings as "an important element in Nortel Networks strategy of growth in South Africa".
He says: "The market is placing increasing demands on suppliers in the vanguard of the convergence of voice and data technologies and through the e-business revolution. A partner with strong, nationwide capabilities and the ability to offer Nortel Networks enterprise and carrier solutions will meet the demanding needs of the local business world."
Keith Boyd, a director of the DNS Group, says the move follows on the recent conclusion of DNS`s appointment as one of the first Nortel Unified Networks partners in South Africa, and effectively gives the company the largest range of Nortel products in the country.
"The concept of Unified Networks is all about offering end-users complete end-to-end integration of voice, data, and video services. The mobile telephony world is becoming an increasingly important part of that vision.
"We are putting our full backing behind Unified Networks, which gives us the ability to offer our customers a single, integrated platform on which they can build all of their fixed line and GSM voice and data requirements," he says.
Denis Hodgson, Nortel products executive at DiData Network Services, points out that the PicoNode Combo neatly complements the other Nortel products that DNS now has in its stable, including the Meridian PABXs and the comprehensive range of data networking products.
He says that using the products of a single vendor enables users to cut the total cost of ownership of their networking infrastructure while building a platform for the deployment of new age applications that exploit the convergence of voice and data on one network.
These applications include productivity-boosting and cost-saving technologies such as voice-over-IP, policy networking and unified messaging, which allows users to access voicemail and data messages such as e-mail through a single voice or Web-based interface.
"For the first time, as a result of the consolidation of the networking industry, we are able to offer a complete solution from one vendor that allows DNS and its customers to reduce the costs of training technical staff who now only need to learn one product range. Using an end-to-end solution from one vendor also makes management of network infrastructure so much simpler," adds Hodgson.
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