UK Authority upgrades to resilient and scalable converged network that delivers power and cost savings.

Scalable, the IP networking and security specialist has deployed a converged network at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council to deliver increased power whilst saving cost.

Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s ICT infrastructure lacked continuity and didn’t meet the reliability needs of its staff and constituents. At the same time, the performance was having negative effect productivity and it therefore became necessary to re-design the infrastructure.

The Council needed a more consistent and robust infrastructure to seamlessly support demand. With continually shrinking budgets and a network that spans five sites, the organisation’s priorities when looking to update the infrastructure were simplified management, a more streamlined network and lower overall operational costs.

The Council had previously worked with Scalable and, after evaluating all available solutions and discussing their system requirements, opted again work with Scalable to design and deploy a solution across the entire campus.

Network delivers flexibility and cost savings

One of the primary aims of the network overhaul was to increase flexibility to support future technologies and an increase in user demand. The solution deployed has simplified management and will grow with the organisation as staff numbers increase. This has been achieved by implementing IP telephony spanning all five sites, which has not only reduced network complexity but also improved voice quality and real-time application availability.

The network solution, with its power management features, such as Extreme’s Universal Port, enable IT managers to choose the exact hours of operation of a given network port, dictating when certain devices should be powered up and when they should be automatically shut down. This way, network-connected IP telephony handsets that consume energy and power every hour, can immediately be powered down at the end of the business day and powered up again the next day, delivering significant energy savings. The saving associated with intelligent power management of such devices can be over 50 percent, providing the cost savings expected of the network.

About Scalable

Founded in 1997 and now part of the Alternative Networks group of companies, Scalable is a leading independent provider of business communications solutions. With an enviable reputation as an IP networking and security specialist we put the intelligence into IP networks; secure, converged, high performance IP networks that are optimised for your now and provide agility for your future.

Partnering with Scalable has enabled organisations such as Woking Borough Council, Dacorum BC and Solihull Metropolitan BC to drive increased profitability and competitive advantage. We take pride in our unequalled expertise, our deep understanding of emerging technologies and our strategic relationships with best-of-breed vendors. Delivering both data centre and campus solutions, we work with you consultatively to assess, design, implement, optimise and support your network, taking a cyclical approach of continuous improvement.