CLEAR and Alcatel - project for Dept for Courts

CLEAR and Alcatel successfully complete major project for Dept for Courts

Media statement

26 July 2000

CLEAR and Alcatel successfully complete major project for Department for Courts

CLEAR Communications and Alcatel have successfully completed a 12-month project to build the Department for Courts a new and fully managed voice and data communications network.

The combined business communications and IT project involves the Department for Courts' 78 sites - totalling more than 5000 extensions - throughout the country.

The new system completely modernises the department's phone system, which could not cope with the volume of calls. Fibre optic cables have been installed to the 36 larger courts and other sites have had significant bandwidth upgrades for faster and more efficient data transmission.

The project is part of a six-year outsourcing agreement through which CLEAR provides fully managed voice and data communications to the department, including a centralised help desk and services such as administration, faults, queries and tailored reporting.

The department's upgraded network is one of New Zealand's largest fully digital networks and provides all department employees identical functionality, regardless of their office location or size. Desk to desk dialling enables a staff member in Kaitaia to make an internal call to another in Invercargill, and portable telephone numbers mean circuit judges can take their phone number with them as they travel from court to court.

Department for Courts spokesman Barry Ebert says the new network means a much-improved telephone service to court users and the public.

"The department aims to be a world leader in the delivery of responsive, modern and cost-effective court services, so the communications infrastructure has to be highly sophisticated and able to grow with ever changing needs," he says.

The new system, including the new hardware provided by Alcatel, has been funded out of existing operating budgets and will result in significant cost saving, says Mr Ebert. External phone and fax numbers for the department will not change until the new editions of telephone directories are produced.

The new infrastructure gives the department the capability to implement innovative services, such as advanced video conferencing and IP telephony, in future.

CLEAR Communications' Integrated Services Manager Bill Ramsay says the project is an example of the benefits of combining business communications and IT innovation to best serve an organisation.

"By taking an integrated approach, CLEAR has been able to remove all of the management hassle for the department," he says.

Alcatel's Enterprise Solutions Manager Peter Chambers says the project is a globally significant one for Alcatel, which has provided the platform.

"Alcatel's objective was to provide Courts with a seamless and transparent communications system where technology adds value, and doesn't hinder efficiency," says Mr Chambers.

"Our solution provides Courts with a future-proof platform to upgrade to additional features and functionality - including voice-over-IP and high level computer-telephony integration - all aimed at supporting a more efficient and customer-responsive organisation."

ENDS

For further information contact Rochelle Lockley, Communications Manager - Commercial CLEAR Communications Ph: (09) 912 4104 Office Ph: (021) 763 784 Mobile

Katrina Wright, Communications Manager Alcatel Ph: (021) 673 460

Barry Ebert, Corporate Communications Manager Department for Courts Ph: (04) 918 8893

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