• Glasgow Caledonian is the first University in Scotland to deploy end-to-end IP Telephony infrastructure
• New network to underpin student & staff services and provide platform for future development

Affiniti, the communications integrator created from the coming together of Kingston Communications Business Services, Omnetica and Technica, today announces that it has successfully delivered a new converged IP Communications infrastructure for Glasgow Caledonian University, one of the largest universities in Scotland with over 14,000 students and 1,500 staff.

In a two-phase deployment, the University's core network infrastructure was first upgraded and extended, to include a Virtual Private Network (VPN), enhanced security and wireless LANs. The second stage involved converging voice onto the IP network, with a 2000 handset IP Telephony (IPT) infrastructure extending across the campus and incorporating three remote sites elsewhere in Glasgow.

"Glasgow Caledonian is the first University in Scotland to deploy wide-scale IP Telephony,"� explains the University's Director of Learning Resources Dr Louise Garden. "IP Telephony does not just replace our existing technology but enables us to gain real additional benefits. We now have one unified telephone system, which is much easier to use and manage, highly scalable and considerably cheaper to run since we are not now making external calls between sites."�

The new infrastructure plays a key role in the University's e-learning and lifelong learning agendas, with the aim being to provide 24/7 "�always on' access to information and services for users whilst on or off campus. The VPN enables staff to work more flexibly, with research and academic staff needing to work from home and the executive team travelling widely in the UK and overseas. The wireless LANs help drive computer-based learning by making network service provision as ubiquitous as possible.

The IPT system offers greater flexibility and resilience. This will be particularly valuable during the hectic annual clearing period just after students get their school leaving exam results when the University receives a huge volume of calls. Scaling the number of handsets and respondents according to demands will be simple, which was unachievable with the legacy system. The University has also benefited from the ease with which users can set up audio conferences on the IPT network, and has realised significant savings on travelling time and costs as a result.

Affiniti designed, project managed and implemented the Cisco-based converged IP infrastructure, and provided full IP Telephony training, working closely with the University's internal IT team to ensure skills transfer at each stage.
 
"The true value lies in the strong relationship Affiniti has developed with us. It is not a typical customer-supplier relationship, but a flexible partnership with genuinely skilled and likeable people,"� continues Dr. Louise Garden. "Affiniti's excellent communications, sound project management and technical expertise ensured that the deployment went very smoothly."� 

Peter Halls, Director of Affiniti, concluded: "Glasgow Caledonian University is leading the way in exploiting IP Communications to drive forward the delivery of higher education and to boost services for staff and students. Affiniti is delighted to have been involved with this project, which further strengthens our reputation and skill set within the education sector."�

Affiniti, the communications integrator, specialises in designing, implementing and managing intelligent communications solutions for private and public sector organisations.

Some of its customers include: Experian, Carphone Warehouse, British Airways, Ford, Admiral Insurance, Edinburgh Telford College , Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen Hospital , Cheshire Police, Citigroup, Lloyds TSB.

Affiniti is part of the KCOM Group.

KCOM Group PLC provides a range of integrated IT and communications services to businesses, and internet and telecommunications services to selected consumer markets, within the UK .

The Group's portfolio of businesses works with both leading private enterprise customers and public sector organisations. Through its Affiniti, Smart421 and JAM IP brands, the Group delivers solutions covering unified communications, contact centre solutions, data management, applications integration and managed services.

The KCOM Group also includes a regionally-focused business, Kingston Communications, which supports small to medium-sized businesses. Through its KC and Eclipse brands, the business offers a wide range of internet-based and telecommunications services. The regional business also provides telephony and internet services to targeted consumers through its KC, Eclipse and Karoo brands.

The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and employs over 2,700 people across the UK .

Alistair Kent
Kaizo
020 7580 8852
E: alistair.kent@kaizo.net

Dianne White
Affiniti
01442 883370
E: dianne.white@affiniti.com