Full Data And Telephone Solutions (1/8/06)

State Of The Art Communications Solutions

Exetel has implemented one of the most sophisticated, but simple to operate and maintain, integrated data and telephone communications systems at a very realistic price level.

This complete system is used by Exetel to provide data, internet and telephone voice services to its personnel anywhere in the world.

Exetel has a main office in North Sydney providing services to 23 personnel and subsidiary offices in three Sydney suburbs (Mosman – 2 people, Kensington – 1 person and Concord – I person) and one in a suburb of Perth – 2 people. Exetel also has two employees who are based in different suburbs of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Exetel maintains contact with around 50,000 customers using the automated functions of its telephone and data communications services.

These services incorporate low cost toll telephone calls as well as VoIP telephony and full internet access as well as linking all sites via a totally secure VPN.

These systems are implemented using a Mitel distributed PABX system and Cisco low end routers.

A schematic diagram of the Exetel integrated data and telephone communications services can be found by clicking here.

A write up on how Exetel implemented this system and the cost savings it has delivered can be found by clicking here.

Phased Solution Implementations

Any change to an operating telephone and data service system must be done very carefully and in a way that no disruption occurs to services and personnel involved.

There are basically five main steps of implementing the Exetel Full Data and telephone solution:

  1. Conduct a site survey and sign off all functions to be provided by designated customer project manager.
  2. Upgrade/Switch the current office Internet connection to an Exetel SHDSL connection.
  3. Install remote user VPN/VoIP telephone connections and Mitel PBX in central office.
  4. Install Mitel handsets for outbound VoIP calls in central office (current handsets remain in use).
  5. Remove old office handsets and use Mitel handsets for all calls.

This actual cut over from the installed system to the new system (after the new SHDSL Internet connection has been installed) takes from 1 week for a small office to 4 – 8 weeks for a complex office; excluding any automation/database functionality.

Throughout the cutover period no person or service is ever “off line” and no new service is implemented until it has been fully tested and signed off by the actual user and the customer’s designated project manager.

Telephone Equipment Supplied

Exetel only uses and supplies telephone switching equipment and handsets from Mitel Ltd – a leading IP telephone solution provider. As stated on the Mitel web site “Approximately 20 million users in over 90 countries today enjoy the experience of a Mitel communications environment. Mitel’s IP Communications environment is growing by over one million ports annually. Mitel is recognized as a major player in the deployment of IP Communications solutions.”

Some sample pricing for 8, 16 and 32 handset solutions can be accessed from the links on the left hand side of this page.

Technical specifications of the main components of the telephone solutions that Exetel use and sell can be found on the links below:

The Mitel handset technical specifications and feature comparisons can be found here.

The Mitel control unit suitable for small to medium companies can be found here.

The Mitel control unit suitable for large, multi office, companies can be found here.