The 145-year-old Ateneo de Manila University Grade School is establishing a new IT data center and has selected an Ethernet switching solution from Nortel to upgrade its existing network and to power the new facility. The aim is to reliably and cost-effectively boost bandwidth to enable such applications as online registration, Web-based library and grading systems, high-speed Internet access, and network sharing for students, faculty and administration. Nortel channel partners MSI-Digiland and GSoft Solutions are handling implementation and providing ongoing technical support.

"With this network upgrade, we expect to raise bandwidth to as much as 1 Gigabit per second (Gbps), accommodate over 400 users and interconnect six buildings on our Loyola campus, making the system twice as fast as it is today," said Mr. Marvin Marbella, subject area coordinator of the Computer Department, Ateneo de Manila University Grade School.

The Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba, established in 1979 at Calamba, Laguna, just south of Manila, is deploying a Nortel IP telephony-ready system to streamline campus-wide communications as well as provide a technology platform for the college to offer contact center training courses in the near future. Nortel channel partner 3D Networks is providing installation and support services.

"Letran-Calamba is poised to considerably grow its student population, and we are now investing wisely in technology that will ensure high quality and efficient communication services in the years to come," said Rev. Fr. Anthony Eudela, OP, vice president for finance, Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba.

"It is exceptionally rewarding for us at Nortel to see our solutions contribute to enhancing productivity at two of the country’s leading educational institutions," said Tony Pio de Roda, Nortel Managing Director, Philippines. "We look forward to working with other schools and universities to help them design and deploy solutions that enhance the educational experience for their students and teachers." In addition to making the ‘experience’ better, Tony Pio de Roda said that the security of the information that passes across the equipment supplied was just as important and that Nortel was uniquely positioned to enable or enforce the policies that institutions or corporations wanted to deploy.

To upgrade its existing data network and enable high density Gigabit connectivity to user desktops, the Ateneo de Manila University Grade School is deploying the Nortel Ethernet Routing Switch 5510 and the Nortel Ethernet Switch 425. These provide a scalable and cost-effective desktop switching solution while delivering low per-port pricing.

The Nortel solution for Colegio de San Juan de Letran-Calamba comprises a Nortel Meridian 1 delivering advanced applications and carrier-grade reliability for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications. The system supports desktop digital and IP telephones, mobility (802.11) communications, voice messaging, call center, PC-based system management, and multimedia applications. The college is also deploying Nortel’s Unified Messaging platform, CallPilot providing a single yet powerful interface to voicemail, email and facsimile correspondence.

Nortel has supplied advanced networking and communications technology solutions to a number of schools and universities across Asia, including Saga University and Tsukuba University in Japan, Seowon University and Seoul National University in Korea, Yunnan Art University in China, Canadian International School in Hong Kong, Ramkhamheang University in Thailand, Edith Cowan University and the New South Wales Department of Education and Training in Australia.