CLEAR Network Provides Platform For Project

CLEAR Network Provides Platform For Ministry Of Social Policy's IP Telephony Project

CLEAR Communications' nationwide data network forms the basis of the Ministry of Social Policy's new IP telephony project, one of the largest of its type in the world.

With partners Cisco Systems and Logical Solutions, CLEAR has created a toll-less telephone system serving the Ministry's more than 200 sites nationwide.

CLEAR Account Director Jack Riley says CLEAR's ATM backbone with access via frame relay provides a resilient and flexible network solution. CLEAR has upgraded bandwidth to all of the ministry's sites, as well as installing new circuits.

All calls on the system are charged at the local rate, creating a toll-less environment. Voice has become another application on the data network, paving the way for greater computer telephony integration and providing flexibility and better management for fast additions and changes, says Mr Riley.

CLEAR's Network Solutions Manager Susan Stone says CLEAR will work with other large customers to develop IP-based integrated telephony and data solutions. CLEAR is also working on network-centric IP telephony solutions which would be more affordable for smaller businesses.

"It makes sense to integrate delivery of voice, data and other communications over one fat pipe, rather than having separate networks," she says. Existing technology is better suited to customers with large networks or numbers of branches, but will soon develop to a point where it will be able to be implemented on a mass scale, she believes.

"The move to IP networks creates possibilities for services that are impossible to deliver over the traditional infrastructure, such as advanced video conferencing and call centre solutions."

ENDS

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

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