The AA is replacing its BT and Energis data and voice
infrastructure with a managed service from Cable & Wireless to
deliver cost savings and enable it to take advantage of advances in
network technology.
The motoring organisation has linked its mainframe to a new
Cable & Wireless network, as it embarks on a £10m, three-year
upgrade of its business-critical IT infrastructure.
The AA is planning to upgrade its network to MPLS
(multi-protocol label switching) by November to provide the
infrastructure it requires to pilot voice over Internet Protocol
systems during 2007.
The migration from one network service provider to a managed
service provider is not without risk, given the business-critical
nature of the AA's call centre infrastructure.
"We are changing the data network of our call centres, which run
24x7," said Trevor Didcock, director of IS at the AA. "It is a
complex environment and the whole network needs to be tested."
The migration involves installing new network cables at the AA's
call centres and booking time with the business to switch services
over from BT to Cable & Wireless. Because the work could affect
the AA's call centre operations, high-level executive support for
the migration and close involvement with operational management has
been critical to minimise disruption.
The AA's contract with Cable & Wireless encompasses a
managed service covering all AA businesses, including roadside
assistance and financial services, where Cable & Wireless will
take full responsibility for the AA's existing voice, contact
centre and data networks.
The motoring organisation is one of only a handful of companies
that has a strategic relationship with Cable & Wireless.
The supplier has been undergoing a major restructuring this
year.In June, Cable & Wireless completed the implementation of
data link switching, which is designed to convert the Oslan
communications protocol used by its Fujitsu customer management
mainframe to IP. This will allow the mainframe to access the Cable
& Wireless wide area network.
The company is also migrating its few remaining Netware
applications onto IP.
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