More than 100 offices to be linked across urban and regional Victoria
SYDNEY, Australia - July 3, 2002 - Cisco Systems, the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, has been selected as the networking supplier for one of Australia's largest Internet Protocol (IP) based video conferencing systems, at the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE).
The Cisco network will be managed by Dimension Data, IBS Audio Visual and Technology Ideas, and is scheduled for completion this year. The network will reach 108 Department sites across urban and regional Victoria, providing full IP video conferencing facilities to 30 offices, with the remainder benefiting from access to video streaming, audio conferencing and e-collaboration services.
The system will be based on the Cisco Architecture for Voice, Video and Integrated Data (AVVID), which combines voice, video and data on one network. This single network approach has now been widely deployed across a number of Victorian Departments under the Government's "Connecting Victoria" strategy. Productivity improvements from the NRE initiative, known as "NREach-out", have alone been estimated at up to A$3.5 million a year.
"This system will link 108 offices and facilities in the State and overcome the problems of distance and isolation, particularly in country Victoria," said Mr Andrew Paynter, NRE Project Manager."Ultimately it allows us to offer better service to the Victorian people."
The Cisco IP Video Conferencing (IPVC) solution will carry video at up to 384, 768 and 1024 kilobits per second, taking advantage of the Department's existing investment in Cisco 7200, 3600 and 2600 Routers and Catalyst 6000 Switches and them multicast routing capabilities of Cisco's Internet Operating System (IOS) Software.
The IPVC system will comprise: Cisco's 3540 Multipoint Conference Bridge, which can scale to handle hundreds of simultaneous video or voice calls; Cisco's Multimedia Conference Manager to manage H.323 protocol communications, call accounting, security and other functions; and Cisco's Content Delivery Networking to minimise network bandwidth requirements when distributing pre-recorded video content.
Cisco Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Mr Terry Walsh, said; "This powerful network architecture will provide an industry leading solution for the Department and will allow it to quickly move to Voice-over-IP and other innovations. Cisco is delighted to participate in this project as a key technology supplier."
About The Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NRE is charged with generating wealth through the sustainable development of Victoria's natural resources. It achieves this while delivering improvements to the quality of the environment and the social wellbeing of the Victorian community.
NRE provides services to all Victorians, but in particular to rural and regional Victorians. Many of its services are delivered in close partnership with community groups and this enables the Department to have a good grasp of the current and emerging issues for regional and rural Victorians.
To achieve its mission the Department employs more than 4000 staff who work from nearly 150 locations across the State. It has annual funding of just under $1 billion which includes $52 million worth of Commonwealth funds and $132 million from fees and charges. See: www.nre.vic.gov.au.
About Dimension Data
Dimension Data Holdings plc (LSE: DDT) is a leading global technology services company, which specialises in providing and managing collaborative infrastructure solutions that enable businesses to communicate and transact internally and externally.
Dimension Data, founded in 1983, had revenues of $2.5 billion in 2001 and operates in over 30 countries. The company's global presence, combined with its expertise in managed services, network infrastructure, application integration and e-business services enables it to provide specialist solutions to help its customers become fully integrated and connected companies.
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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