Leicester College is developing its e-strategy around a new
unified communications platform from Siemens.
The OpenScape Unified Communication Server will support the
college's e-strategy and enable a converged voice and data network
across three campuses.
The project includes delivery of the HiPath 8000 comms platform,
HiPath Xpressions voice messaging, HiPath Wireless and HiPath
Mobile Connect (fixed mobile convergence) systems to enable
efficient communication between staff and learners.
It also includes HP ProCurve Ethernet switching equipment in
order to provide a resilient, cost efficient data network.
The decision to implement a
VoIP network and associated Wi-Fi functionality came as the
Freeman's Park and St Margaret's campuses underwent
refurbishment.
The construction of Abbey Park, a £20m, five-storey building on
a new site, added to the need for a converged network to ensure
seamless communications between the staff and learners.
Staff roaming between the three sites will use the wireless
network with the use HiPath Mobile Connect.
These users will have dual band GSM/Wi-Fi phones, which will
allow them to automatically and seamlessly switch between their
telecom operator's cellular network and the college's VoIP network
- even whilst they are on a call. This is expected to provide cost
savings of between 15%-40% against current mobile bills.
Paul Chapman, head of libraries and e-strategy at Leicester
College, said, "The decision to converge our voice and data
networks was a simple one. It will allow us to deploy VoIP, which
is essential to our e-strategy over the next five years.
"The added advantage of having a single point of contact with
Siemens for the full voice and data requirement provides us with
added reassurance. We don't expect to need to refresh our
infrastructure to this extent for another 25 years, so it was
essential to choose a supplier we could trust."