SYDNEY, Australia - 6 February 2002 -Hillsong Church, one of Australia's largest and fastest-growing churches, has improved security and expanded its communications network with the selection of a Internet Protocol-based voice, data and video solution from Cisco Systems.
The network will carry general workgroup and Internet data for the church's global operations, based on Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID). Several hundred staff, volunteers and Bible College students will use the network, spread over 14 sites in the Sydney metropolitan area, as well as offices in London and Kiev (Ukraine). The communications system will also link a teaching complex and 3,500-person auditorium at the Church's Sydney headquarters.
Hillsong's Chief Information officer, Mr David Hooton, said there was a need to expand the communications network to support voice calls and high volume multimedia traffic such as streaming video - all within a secure online environment.
"The Cisco solution was the only offering that 100 per cent answered every requirement of our Request for Tender - and it offered additional functionality on top of that," Mr Hooton said.
Network security at Hillsong will be handled using the Cisco User Registration Tool (URT).
"The killer app was Cisco's URT, which will allow us to offer every data port as active, while still maintaining a secure network in a public access building. This was in stark contrast to the security problems we had experienced with our old LAN environment," Mr Hooton said.
The new Hillsong Church AVVID network solution comprises a core Cisco Catalyst 6509 switch with Cisco Catalyst 3524XL powered edge switches. A Cisco CallManager Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server solution will be used for voice in the 50-seat pilot and later enterprise-wide.
Mr Hooton said the Church also plans to enable staff and students to connect to the network using wireless connections based on Cisco's Aironet 350-series products.
Hillsong aims to be at the forefront of technology and will implement the new network in a two-phase rollout, beginning with a 50-seat pilot in February. The church produces a TV program, live albums and a website as a way of reaching people in Australia and overseas. Through the Hillsong International Leadership College it also trains students from around the world in pastoral, music and other ministry skills.
The main benefits of the new network will be lower support costs and much faster and cheaper moves, adds and changes. "Users will be able to move anywhere within our campus without assistance from IT," says Hooton. "This is a huge bonus for them."
About Cisco AVVID
AVVID, Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data, provides organisations with a solid foundation for the deployment of emerging technology solutions such as IP telephony, content delivery and storage. It is the industry's only enterprise-wide, standards-based network architecture and provides a roadmap for companies seeking to combine their business and technology strategies into one cohesive model. See http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/largeent/avvid/
About the Hillsong Church
Established in Sydney's north-west suburbs in 1983 by Brian and Bobbie Houston, the Hillsong Church today incorporates two major worship centres (Hills and City), a Sydney-wide network of cell groups and contributing ministries and outreach services. Its congregation has grown from 45 at its inception to a collective congregation of over 12,000.
See www.hillsong.com for further information.
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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