National Software Centre Deploys Nortel Networks IP Telephony Solution; Supports Innovative, High Tech Businesses with Next Generation Voice, Data Services

Business Wire, Oct 24, 2002

Business Editors & High Tech Writers

CORK, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 24, 2002

The National Software Centre (NSC), a campus designed to host and support new software ventures, has deployed a converged IP (Internet Protocol) voice and data network solution from Nortel Networks (NYSE:NT) (TSE:NT.) to offer innovative, high tech businesses the latest communications technology.

"We wanted to employ a network that would be highly scalable, easy to maintain and ready for future deployment and multimedia applications," said Michael O'Connor, chief executive officer, CORKBIC at the NSC. "With Nortel Networks Succession enterprise solution for IP telephony, we can scale up to 1,500 users without having to upgrade the system; create a campus environment tying all the buildings together; and manage it all from one central location. Most of all, we can truly offer leading edge technology to our customers."

The converged solution, which is capable of supporting Quality of Service (QoS) from the edge to the core of the network, was completed in conjunction with Eircom Business Systems and LAN Communications, both Nortel Networks "channel partners." It is based on Nortel Networks end-to-end enterprise portfolio.

Nortel Networks Passport 8600 Multiservice Switch at the core, Business Policy switches at the edge, and Nortel Networks Succession Communication Service for Enterprise (CSE) 1000 IP telephony solution provide NSC with a system designed to reliably and cost-effectively handle 'mission critical' information. Nortel Networks solution for NSC also includes wireless local area network (LAN) capability.

"The NSC has really proved to be a great venue for us to develop our operations in Cork," said Shemas Eivers of Horizon Technology Group, an NSC tenant. "As an international PLC, we need a dynamic, cost-effective venue with reliable, feature-rich technology to allow us to be in touch with our customers and offices in Europe, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for 365 days a year."

"In addition, the available wireless LAN gives the right flexibility to our employees, allowing them to be in touch with customers anywhere, anytime," Eivers said. "Employees can log on anywhere, whether they have met a customer in the foyer with a cup of coffee or during a presentation in a conference room."

NSC's Succession CSE 1000 also includes Nortel Networks CallPilot unified messaging, which brings together voice mail, e-mail and faxes to create a 'one stop' personal communications management system for NSC customers.

"We provided a leading edge converged network solution that is helping to reduce costs for the NSC and its customers," said Barry Dillon, business manager, Enterprise Solutions, Nortel Networks Ireland. "This is a truly converged solution providing leading technology without loss of functionality."

Born out of a series of public meetings between the Cork City Council and the IT industry in Cork to ascertain the underlying issues and concerns of the IT sector in the Cork region, the NSC Campus is a direct reply to one of the main issues raised at these meetings: the need for a physical building that would go towards making Cork a centre of IT excellence. The purpose of the NSC Campus is to establish Cork City as the most preferred regional location outside of Dublin for IT inward investment and a leading centre in Europe for niche software development in collaborative teams and joint ventures. For more information please visit www.nsc-campus.com.

Nortel Networks is an industry leader and innovator focused on transforming how the world communicates and exchanges information. The Company is supplying its service provider and enterprise customers with communications technology and infrastructure to enable value-added IP data, voice and multimedia services spanning Wireless Networks, Wireline Networks, Enterprise Networks, and Optical Networks. As a global Company, Nortel Networks does business in more than 150 countries. More information about Nortel Networks can be found on the Web at www.nortelnetworks.com.

Nortel Networks, the Nortel Networks logo, the Globemark, Succession, Passport and CallPilot are trademarks of Nortel Networks.