UUNET SA wins Bidvest tender to create first MPLS network in SA

I-Fusion, a solution provider within the Bidvest Group of companies, has recently awarded the group Internet connectivity to UUNET SA for an initial period of one year to develop the first MPLS network of its kind in South Africa.

The tender which consisted of a competitive pitch between all the major service providers in South Africa, was awarded to UUNET SA due to its technical expertise and network lay-out. Bidvest through I-Fusion has embarked on developing a major national network that will be utilised as a common networking platform by the Bidvest Group of companies, as well as by I-Fusion`s customer base. This networking infrastructure has been christened "BIDNET". The network utilises Cisco technology on the core and is one of the most advanced networks assembled in Africa to date. BIDNET will allow customers access to high speed networking infrastructure using the latest technologies. This network is resilient, flexible and allows for high availability.

"I-Fusion needed an Internet service provider that could provide all the value added connectivity and support to this network," says Julian Liebenberg, technical director at I-Fusion. "One of the requirements of I-Fusion was that the chosen service provider had to have expertise in Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology. Throughout the tender process, UUNET SA was able to demonstrate its MPLS capabilities and knowledge through its MPLS lab. In addition, UUNET SA has just finished rolling-out its own MPLS network.

"This MPLS network will enable UUNET SA to lay the foundation to support a new age of Internet Protocol (IP) routing and dynamic, transparent and secure Virtual Private Networks (VPN`s)," says Heather Tonkin, account manager at UUNET SA. "With an MPLS network, Bidvest will be able to offer its customers, employees and suppliers a multiple VPN on a single line, while still ensuring a secure environment that is easy to manage." To simplify network management, UUNET SA has committed to providing Internet connectivity to Bidvest through I-Fusion, to its three major nodes in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. "We expect that Bidvest`s bandwidth will grow very quickly as it moves all its customers across to its integrated network," adds Tonkin.

"In addition to demonstrating proven capabilities in MPLS technology, UUNET SA also illustrated expertise through its technical skills and reach into Africa. This made UUNET SA the service provider of choice," says Liebenberg.

UUNET SA, WorldCom Company, is Southern Africa`s leading Internet-based network service provider. The company provides Internet connectivity and corporate network services to major corporations as well as access services to Internet Service Providers.

All UUNET SA products and services are delivered within the required regulatory conditions. UUNET SA is owned by UUNET Technologies, a WorldCom company, which is a global leader in Internet communication solutions offering a comprehensive range of Internet services to business customers worldwide.

For more information please visit the UUNET Website on www.uunet.co.za