The Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DENR) enjoys high-speed, reliable telecoms connectivity as well as the ability to securely backup large amounts of critical data thanks to a project by Complete Telecom.  The department’s users now have access to high-speed 2 Gbit/sec links at the Adelaide Road and Beggars Bush sites as well as a 10 Mbit/sec to the Cavan site providing high-speed connectivity and maximizing staff productivity.

There are 300 users in the department spread across three sites.  With 50 users in the department’s Cavan office, the network acts as a carrier for a combination of standard file, print and email traffic.  Maximum network uptime is leveraged by the power and speed of the inter-departmental links and allows users to carry out the department’s business swiftly and efficiently on a day-to-day basis.

The profile of network traffic at the Dublin sites is quite different though and really puts the speed and capacity of the links to the test.

Protecting Critical Data
The Geological Survey of Ireland (GSI), which is attached to the department, has high bandwidth and storage requirements, stemming from the nature of its work.  It is currently conducting a comprehensive sea-bed survey, which involves the collection of a huge amount of data.  High-capacity links are an absolute necessity so this data, which is so costly to gather, can be securely and swiftly backed up between the Beggars Bush and Adelaide Road site.  In essence, these Gigabit links are a critical part of the department’s disaster recovery planning.

Neil Wisdom, sales and marketing director for Complete Telecom comments:  “Our national fibre optic next generation network is an ideal platform for the department’s requirements. We specialise in very high capacity, high performance solutions which are a perfect fit for something like the current GSI project. This needs fully uncontended, secure links capable of supporting significant amounts of raw data he adds.

“In terms of project implementation, the Complete team have been extremely responsive, technically-adept and easy to do business with.”- A Spokesperson for the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources

Balancing Value for Money and Performance
The Department regularly reviews all its costs and is continually looking at ways to reduce its operating overheads.  This also applies to its contracts for telecoms connectivity.  “We are always concerned with value for money,” according to a spokesperson with DCENR.  “With our existing contract up for renewal and a recognition that telecoms costs are coming down, we used this as an opportunity to go back out to the market to secure the most competitive prices available.”

The DCENR approached all the major telecom services operators and invited tender submissions to provide telecoms connectivity.  Following a rigorous evaluation process, Complete Telecom was selected.  “On this occasion, Complete Telecom’s proposal was successful in delivering high-speed and high-capacity bandwidth to our users at the most cost-effective price,” added the spokesperson for the Department.

Complete Telecom is an Irish-owned organisation with its own all-fibre, next generation network.  The company is one of only a small number of approved telecoms service providers to the Irish government.  Its client base includes high profile public and private organisations such as DAA, BWG Foods, CityJet, Icon Clinical, RTE, Wyeth and EBS.

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