AT&T Wins Trade NZ Data Network Upgrade Contract

AT&T Wins Trade New Zealand Contract For Data Network Upgrade

Auckland, New Zealand, July 10, 2001 - Trade New Zealand has selected telecommunications provider AT & T as its provider for a substantial global data infrastructure upgrade.

The multimillion dollar upgrade project will add a number of Trade New Zealand's international offices onto the agency's existing global data network and in many cases will increase the speed of links to offices already on the network.

The project aims to support improved data communications throughout the organisation, prepare the network for upcoming web-based services and to provide superior network maintenance and monitoring.

AT & T, which is Trade New Zealand's incumbent supplier of managed network and remote access services, was chosen after a lengthy, open market RFP process.

Trade New Zealand's General Manager for Corporate Services, Arama Kukutai, says AT & T was chosen because of its planned speed of implementation, technical performance, flexibility and cost.

Mr Kukutai says for Trade New Zealand's clients the project means a more robust, resilient and stable network amongst the 39 international offices. “As Trade NZ puts more services on-line and we require faster responses to our clients, a reliable and fast network is critical to support our ability to meet those expectations."

It also allows for trouble shooting, monitoring and maintenance of the information systems at the international offices to be performed from Trade New Zealand's Auckland corporate office by its Information Management team, he says.

Hooking the international sites up to the upgraded data network means they will be "always on" through permanent virtual connections (PVCs) rather than intermittently through dial-up methods. The solution continues the use of Frame Relay technology based on a “star” network topology.

"Permanent connections give us significantly improved ability to monitor the performance of our global data network and provide preventative as well as out of office hours maintenance capability," says Mr Kukutai.

Six out of Trade New Zealand’s seven main regional offices are already using PVC's on the network, which will be upgraded to faster network speeds. Options such as ISDN and DSL are being considered for offices in areas where the cost of such network structures are still proving prohibitive.

"The network upgrade also provides for significant scalability without additional capital expenditure, and means we are well placed for any growth required for web-based services as we roll out our e-business initiatives," Mr Kukutai says.

Trade New Zealand is also rolling out a $13.1 million eBusiness project over the next two years with a consortium led by KPMG Consulting and including Microsoft, TelstraSaturn and Cisco.

AT& T (www.ap.att.com) is a provider of global managed networking services. Last month it officially opened its new Auckland office and received the Telecom Asia Readers' Choice Award of Best Global Carrier for the third year in succession.

New Zealand General Manager for AT& T Business, Roger Payne, says they are delighted to win the contract and to support the growth and expansion of New Zealand businesses through assisting Trade New Zealand.

"The Asia Pacific region is one of the most important high growth markets for AT&T, and we are committed to winning significant New Zealand businesses in this highly competitive, highly deregulated market.

"Our goal is to be the leading provider of advanced communication services, targeting travelling executives, local and regional businesses, multinational corporations and governments," says Mr Payne.

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