SUDBURY, ON - October 30, 2001 - As part of a major renovation and modernization project, The Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) has chosen to implement an IP telephony solution based on the Cisco Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (Cisco AVVID). The converged voice and data network, the first of its kind in Northern Ontario, will deliver significant cost savings and improved efficiency to the non-profit, government funded organization.
Mandated to promote and protect public health and prevent disease in the district of Sudbury and Manitoulin, the SDHU is currently engaged in a broad-scale renovation and facilities upgrade project. One of the key areas of concern in the project was the Unit's growing communications requirements. With over 180 employees, including 50 added in the last quarter alone, the Health Unit's IT executives were concerned with accommodating temporary staff relocations as a result of the ongoing renovations, while cost-effectively planning for the future.
"The benefits of implementing IP telephony were crystal clear," said Craig Tyers, manager, corporate technology for the Health Unit. "Cisco delivered a state-of-the-art converged network that reduced maintenance costs, simplified network administration, delivered savings on long-distance tolls, and easily accommodated staff additions and relocations. Ultimately, Cisco's IP telephony solution has given us control of our communications and the flexibility to be creative in the programming of new features and applications. All while maintaining critical control over our network and investment."
"This is the first comprehensive IP telephony implementation in Northern Ontario and a testament to the forward thinking of IT executives at the SDHU," said Steve Murray, sales manager, O.N.Telcom, systems integrator for the project. "This is an investment in the future, one that will allow the Unit to save money, while enhancing efficiency and service delivery. By implementing Cisco's IP telephony solution the Unit will have the scalability and flexibility to expand services as requirements change and roll-out a range of exciting converged applications to benefit employees and the community."
"The SDHU is a great example of how a visionary organization can leverage technology to improve communications, enhance community service and lower costs," said Nitin Kawale, Director, Enterprise Sales, Cisco Systems Canada. "By transitioning to a converged voice and data network, the Health Unit will be able to expand to meet the growing needs of the Unit and the community."
Enabling innovation: The City of Sudbury
The Sudbury & District Health Unit uses the City of Sudbury's advanced metropolitan-area network (MAN) to deliver voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) services to its remote sites. Based on Cisco technology, the MAN allows Sudbury to provide high-speed Internet access and increased bandwidth capability to local government, utilities, school boards, libraries, private businesses and citizens.
"The Sudbury MAN was designed to establish Sudbury as one of the province's leading wired communities and empower local businesses. By enabling sophisticated business applications such as IP telephony, the Sudbury MAN is accomplishing that goal," says John Jeza, vice president, communications services at Greater Sudbury Telecommunications Inc. "IP telephony will allow SDHU to efficiently and cost-effectively grow forward utilizing Cisco technology and the Sudbury MAN."
AVVID at Sudbury & District Health Unit
Cisco's AVVID technology provides an intelligent network infrastructure for Internet business solutions. As the industry's only enterprise-wide, standards-based network architecture, it provides the roadmap for combining business and technology strategies into one cohesive model. Voice and video solutions based on AVVID are comprised of scalable call processing, IP-based business applications, video-conferencing, directory services, network management, service and support, and client devices such as IP phones.
The Cisco equipment installed by Sudbury & District Health Unit includes: Cisco 3662 Router products with PRI Card, Cisco Catalyst 3524 & 4006 Inline Power Switch products, Cisco CallManager 3.1, Cisco Unity 3.0, and Cisco 7960 and 7935 IP phones (TBC).
About The Sudbury & District Health Unit
The Sudbury & District Health Unit has been serving the health needs of citizens in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts since 1956. A non-profit, publicly funded agency, the Health Unit is mandated to promote and protect health and to prevent disease. One of six provincially designated teaching health units in the province, the Health Unit is also committed to research, education and excellence in programming. Working with individuals, families and the community, the Health Unit provides programs and services to people of all ages in workplaces, nursery schools and daycare centres, schools, colleges, universities, homes, health care settings and neighbourhoods. For more information on the Health Units and its programs, visit www.sdhu.com
About O.N. Telcom
In its 99th year of service to Northern Ontario, O.N.Telcom is proud to provide a variety of services including: long distance voice, Advanced Network Services, e-business solutions and local telephone service. O.N.Telcom also provides Internet services through ONLink. The Company operates a Cisco Powered ATM Network and is a Cisco Premium reseller of datacom products and services. For more information, visit www.ontelcom.ca.
About Greater Sudbury Telecommunications Inc.
Greater Sudbury Telecommunications Inc. services the City of Greater Sudbury with a 400-kilometer fibre-based network utilizing Cisco electronics. GSTi provides transparent LAN services, high speed Internet, local loop services for Call Centres and is interconnected with several national and regional carrriers, including ONTelcom.
For Additional Information:
- Willa Black
Cisco Systems Canada Co.
416-306-7732
Pager: 1-800-68-CISCO
E-mail: wblack@cisco.com - Gareth Pettigrew
Strategic/Ampersand Inc.
416-961-5595 ext. 428
E-mail: gareth@stratamp.com
