SYNDEY, Australia - 13 February 2002 - KRONE Australia, a leading manufacturer of telecommunications cabling infrastructure, has selected Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, to implement an IP-based converged communications system.
Based on Cisco AVVID (Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data), the new infrastructure will provide voice, video and data services between KRONE's head office and five State offices, replacing KRONE's aging PABX-based network. The solution integrates Cisco's Call Manager solution and IP phones, Cisco 4000 Series Catalyst switches and the Cisco Unity Unified Messaging service.
IBM Project Management were engaged as implementation consultants as KRONE looked at either replacing its existing PABX system.
"KRONE is in the business of telecommunications so we knew there was a dramatic technology shift from analogue PABX technology to Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP)," said Mr Craig Jones, Chief Executive Officer, KRONE Australia. "Our existing PABX system was more than ten years old and coming out of its maintenance contract so it was time to look at new alternatives.
"We chose Cisco's AVVID solution because of the savings we could achieve in moving to voice over IP telephony, the network's reliability and because of the applications possible on an IP-based network," Mr Jones said.
KRONE is part of the GenTek group, a US-based manufacturer of communications products, automotive and industrial components and performance chemicals. Its Australian operation is headquartered in Wyong on the New South Wales Central Coast, employing more than 300 people and turning over more than $60 million a year.
KRONE Australia has sales offices in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, which are administered from its head office in the Berkeley Vale industrial area of Wyong.
By having one network carrying voice as well as data and video - KRONE is effectively future-proofing its network and will enable value added applications which the old PABX systems simply could not achieve," said Mr Terry Walsh, Cisco Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand. "We are delighted that a company, acknowledged as a leading-edge manufacturer of quality, high performance telecommunications solutions, opted for an Cisco AVVID IP telephony system."
The first stage of the new network involved running a pilot network of 10 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones alongside the existing PABX system at KRONE's head office. In early February 2002, the Cisco-based network began to be used to carry all voice and data traffic for KRONE's head office - involving more than 200 connections. Over time, VoIP services will be rolled out to other offices via a Wide Area Network across Australia, then possibly to other KRONE facilities in Asia Pacific.
The first stage of the new network involved running a pilot network of 10 Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones alongside the existing PABX system at KRONE's head office. In early February 2002, the Cisco-based network began to be used to carry all voice and data traffic for KRONE's head office - involving more than 200 connections. Over time, VoIP services will be rolled out to other offices via a Wide Area Network across Australia, then possibly to other KRONE facilities in Asia Pacific.
"The final stage in Australia will be to start running video over the network, giving us our own videoconferencing facilities," Mr Jones said.
WAN connectivity for KRONE will be enabled by Cisco's Catalyst 4000 voice ready switch at the core, and Catalyst 3524 edge switches with inline power at the different floor levels at head office and soon to be located in each of the branches.
About Cisco AVVID
Cisco's Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data, or AVVID, 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.
About KRONE
KRONE Australia is an innovative, high tech design and manufacturing company based on the Central Coast of New South Wales. It produces cabling and interconnection and distribution devices used in copper and fibre optic telecommunications and data networks. The company has been operating for 21 years in Australia and is the preferred connectivity provider to both private and public enterprise. Virtually 100 per cent of fixed line telephone calls use KRONE products within the system and almost every building in Australia is wired up with KRONE connectors. The company has led the way internationally with innovative technology for high-speed data connectivity for Local Area Networks within buildings.
The company employs over 300 people in Australia and is one of the vital parts of the KRONE Group worldwide. It is accredited to ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards and has invested more than $60 million in its Australian operation and has a turnover of approximately $60 million per annum.
In 2001, the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA) gave KRONE Australia its "Excellence in Product Stewardship' award as well as Special Commendations for its work in Energy Efficiency and Commercialising R&D.
The company also won the GIO Business Star of the Year Award in the Market Share category; and the well-respected global research organisation, BSRIA UK, in its June 2001 Report, confirmed that KRONE had the lion's share of the structured cabling market in Australia.
KRONE Australia is the Regional Headquarters and one of five Manufacturing Centres of Competence for the KRONE group.
More information on KRONE Asia Pacific or KRONE Australia may be found by visiting the company's web site at www.krone.com.au or the company's group homepage at www.krone.com
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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