Laser, WiFi, EPN, QoS, VoIP -
all in a days work for Centrix

The days of separate voice and data networks are almost completely over and this month saw the installation of a converged voice and data solution for an existing customer of Centrix, Stanhope Office Services, which tested the scope of IP telephony and the world of convergence.

Stanhope Business Centres are a new concept in services offices creating ideal business environments that facilitate growth and prosperity. Their existing prestigious building in Covent Garden ( Chandos Place ) already had an Avaya DEFINITY® telephone system and Medusa internet delivery product from Centrix, but when they took on another building in Covent Garden ( Floral Street ) a new solution had to be designed.

Richard Burbage, Sales & Marketing Director of Centrix, summarises the requirements that Stanhope had. "Essentially Stanhope were looking to utilise their existing hardware but at the same time expand it to cope with the increased size at Floral Street . Because of the proximity between the two buildings, which is only 200 metres, it was sensible to consider wireless connectivity and IP telephony. Our proposed solution included no less than 7 new features which Stanhope decided to adopt."

Migrate from existing DEFINITY® si platform to new S8500 Media Server and G650 Media Gateway with IP telephony and centralised voicemail

Install new EPN (Enhanced Port Network) over at Floral Street using G650 Media Gateways and IP telephony with QoS (Quality of Service)

Utilise Avaya C360 PoE (Power over Ethernet) Switches

Install Wireless 54Mbs WiFi (802.11g) link

Install Laser 100Mbs link for resilience

Additional Medusa Slave unit for use over at Floral Street

Tenant Partitioning for both buildings

Richard explains further, "This then gave Stanhope a number of benefits relating to the reduced costs of maintenance, centralised ISDN circuits, consolidated hardware, no recurring charges for the link between the two buildings and the ability to roll out IP telephony to new tenants moving into either of the buildings. All in all a great example of how IP voice and data have converged to deliver real benefits and cost savings to customers".

Mirijana Sormaz , manager of Stanhope, had the following comments to make after the installation. "Although we were already Centrix customers we did go out to tender for the solution required at Floral Street , but were pleased when it was apparent that Centrix fully understood our requirements and were competitively priced to deliver against them. Once again our faith was put in Centrix to make the solution work, on time and within budget, and once again we were impressed. Of all the work undertaken at Floral Street the voice and data solution went very smoothly and ahead of schedule and the after-sales service from Centrix has been exemplary."

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