Aussie telco enlists Cisco's help to meet data service demands

Business telecommunications service provider PowerTel has selected a networking solution from Cisco Systems to upgrade its optical and core routing technology to meet growing customer demand for data services such as virtual private networks (VPNs).

The multimillion dollar upgrade will help PowerTel increase network bandwidth and meet demand for its integrated Internet Protocol (IP) based portfolio of products, such as metropolitan Ethernet and IP VPNs.

Powertel claims that the upgrade to its intercity optical fibre network will enable a 400 percent increase in network capacity and will help improve network efficiency.

Ian Noble, general manager, Infrastructure, for PowerTel, said; "Powertel and Cisco have had a strong relationship for many years. This significant network upgrade will build on that relationship, and will deliver an even more robust and scalable platform for rapid growth of the backbone network. That platform will help Powertel to meet increasing demands for data services offered nationwide ranging from 64 kilobit per second to 1 gigabit per second."

PowerTel is enhancing current long haul transmission systems with Cisco optical and IP technology. The upgrade will enable greater efficiencies for the transport of IP services by eliminating the need for Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) encapsulation for long-distance carriage.

Peter Papaioannou, Cisco regional sales manager, Service Provider, said: "This upgrade gives PowerTel one of the most advanced networks in Australia. It will help PowerTel to provide its customers with a wide range of IP services and help ensure that PowerTel meets the growing demand for those services."

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