The growth in the multimedia and videoconferencing market, involving live video streaming and a data-intensive environment, requires sophisticated networking and large bandwidth.
Realising this, communications company Global Access Telecommunications Services, specialists in high-impact multimedia applications, upgraded its networking infrastructure to enable the moving of large multimedia files between workstations. The project, valued at R700 000, was carried out by Dimension Data Networking.
Global Access is now benefiting from increased productivity, the removal of bottlenecks, reduced employee frustration and a solid platform from which to explore increasingly sophisticated technology.
In addition, both internal communications, and those between head office and the Cape Town branch, have improved dramatically. The company can also now take full advantage of emerging technologies, and is operating in a true client/server environment. Internet browsing is much faster, and high-tech products can now be fully tested in-house.
"We work at the cutting edge of technology, offering a range of communications services including satellite delivery of broadband point to multi-point distribution for video, audio and data," says Clarence Allamby, network administrator of Global Access. "We also offer high-speed data delivery, interactive viewer response systems and advanced Internet and Intranet applications.
"Our previous Token-Ring network lacked the bandwidth for us to produce and move large files quickly and effectively," he says. "It also could not support live video streaming from our studios to desktop PCs."
Dimension Data Networking, working in conjunction with Global Access` consultants, Open Systems Integrators, was selected to design a networking solution.
"Our new network has increased productivity and removed the previous bottleneck," says Allemby. "We now have a network that is sophisticated enough to support our data-intensive business and enable video applications on the desktop."
The Cabletron solution consists of a switched Gigabit backbone linking the workgroup switches to the core router, and employing 100MB switching to the desktop. The company`s existing Cisco routers were also upgraded. Two other Dimension Data companies, The Internet Solution and Advanced Cabling were chosen as Global Access` Internet Service Provider (ISP) and to provide cabling for the project.
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