Chipboard manufacturer Sonae Novobord has implemented a revolutionary voice over IP (VOIP) Wide Area Network (WAN) to handle the voice and data communications between its Johannesburg, George, Panbult and White River operations.
The system, supplied and implemented by Dimension Data Network Services, eliminates the need for Sonae Novobord to install and maintain two separate networks - one for telephony and the other for data.
In addition, Dimension Data will continue to support Sonae Novobord by managing its network remotely via its Managed Online Network (MON) service, a key element of Dimension Data`s Global Services Operating Architecture (GSOA) network services platform.
"We needed a wide area network (WAN) with Voice over IP to connect our Rosebank head office and our sites at George, Panbult and White River," says Anton van der Westhuizen, IT manager of Sonae Novobord.
VOIP technology combines the data world with the telephone. Although too early to quantify benefits - the solution is not yet fully implemented - van der Westhuizen expects a significant decrease in Telkom and maintenance costs, savings that are expected to cover the cost of the new network well within two years.
"To successfully implement VOIP, an organisation needs to have a good business case; make sure its network is capable of real-time multimedia traffic; pick a leading vendor, and most importantly - make sure they have the backup support required to make it work!" says Michael Abendanon, account manager, Dimension Data Network Services.
"We chose a Cisco network because Cisco is currently the leader in router technology and it was the technology proposed by Dimension Data," says van der Westhuizen, adding that Dimension "has an excellent track record and was able to supply a complete solution - everything from anti-virus software to a complete WAN to remote network monitoring."
A number of Dimension Data group companies were involved in Sonae Novobord implementation, including Dimension Data Network Services, Dimension Data Interactive, Advanced Cabling, and Dimension Data Consulting. Apart from being able to supply a comprehensive solution, the global group is also ideally positioned to support international companies.
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Dimension Data
Dimension Data is a leading global network services and i-Commerce solutions provider, focused on enabling enterprises, telecommunications service providers and new economy companies to communicate and transact effectively in an e-enabled environment.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is ranked in FTSE 100 and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. The Group has achieved a compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 78% in revenue and 38% in basic earnings per share over the past two years.