KUCHING, Malaysia -- 9 February 2001 -- Paving the way for technology education excellence in the region, Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology (SSIT), the Malaysian division of Australia-based Swinburne University of Technology, is harnessing the power of the Internet and networking solutions to enrich the learning process. Today, SSIT announced the completion of a state-of-the-art end-to-end network from Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, which will enable it to offer integrated data, voice and video services as well as wireless networking access to staff and students.

This seamlessly integrates teaching, learning, research and administration across a high-speed network and dramatically enhances learning productivity, placing SSIT on the cutting-edge of the e-learning revolution. Centrepiece of the network is the deployment of 1,000 Cisco IP Phones, the largest in Malaysia, which will enhance communications between teachers, staff and students on campus and with other Swinburne campuses around the region.

The new network, built on Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID) and which boasts a Gigabit Ethernet (1,000 Mbps) backbone and Fast Ethernet (10/100 Mbps) connections to the desktop, is part of the Swinburne Information Technology Enhancement Strategy (SITES 2000), which will also link all of Swinburne's campuses around Asia Pacific with fibre optic technology.

"The challenge that all educational institutions have today is how to continue to provide the environment and means to grow in the face of the rapid global technology changes brought about by the Internet. Swinburne's heritage has been in the technology area and we have always been active adopters of leading-edge technologies ourselves. This network here and throughout the region will ensure that we have the necessary infrastructure to position ourselves as one of the leading universities of technology in the Asia Pacific region," said Stephen Murby, Vice President, Swinburne University of Technology.

"Cisco Systems has had a long association with the academic community and with developing and enhancing high-tech education. Our roots in Stanford University in California and our experience with the Cisco Networking Academy program have given us an acute appreciation of the needs of educational institutions. Swinburne's foresight and innovation in building such an advanced networking infrastructure and the use of next-generation technologies such as IP Telephony is a perfect example of New World e-learning in action," said Lou McElwain, Vice President of Operations, Asia Pacific, Cisco Systems.

SSIT's AVVID-based network will allow staff and students to roam with notebooks or Cisco IP Phones and make calls from network access points around campus, or through wireless LAN connectivity. IP Telephony technology affords SSIT tremendous cost savings and new value-added services. For example, Cisco IP Phones can be configured for instant messaging and e-mail programs. A screen on the Cisco IP Phone can list both voice and text messages. Cost savings will come not only from savings from international and long distance calls but also from the combination of data, voice and video on one network, saving as much as 30 per cent on equipment costs.

About Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology

Swinburne Sarawak Institute of Technology (SSIT) is a Division of Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne and operates in partnership with Yayasan Sarawak. The establishment of Swinburne Sarawak is part of a long-term strategy by Swinburne University to globalize its operations and provide all Swinburne students worldwide with international living, working and learning opportunities.

Swinburne Sarawak was established as a result of the Sarawak government's initiative to invite a foreign, technologically focused University to be set up in Sarawak. Swinburne University of Technology was given the green light by the then federal Minister of Education, Dato Seri Najib in 1999. In August 2000, Swinburne took its first intake for degree programs and skills enhancement programs with a total student population of 130.

Swinburne Sarawak currently occupies the first four floors of the Kompleks Negeri (State Complex) at Jalan Simpang Tiga in the State capital, Kuching. The capacity of the campus is currently approximately 1,500 students. The future headquarters campus will be a 50-acre lakeside setting at the Marina Bay Resort area at Petra Jaya, with close proximity to major government and commercial centers. The new campus, expected to be completed by the year 2005, will have a student capacity of 5,000. SSIT news and information are available at www.swinburne.edu.my/.

About Cisco Systems

Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet. Cisco news and information are available at www.cisco.com.

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