CommTel Network Solutions design, engineer and implement carrier-grade networks, providing reliable integration and aftersales service for national and international clients. They are experts in advanced telecommunications technologies, particularly those used in mission critical applications. Based in Melbourne, Australia, CommTel Network Solutions is focused on delivering engineered solutions for ultra-high availability in harsh and often challenging environments. Their multi-product, multi-technology integration provides for a wide range of customers including those in transport, power utilities, pipelines, mining and the emergency services.

“One common thread that does run through all of our customers, in their varying fields, is the need for high reliability and availability. All of them have mission-critical needs,” says Paul Mascitti, General Manager, Business Development & Sales, CommTel. “They’re in it for the long term, and because their infrastructure investment is in, roads, railways etc they expect their communications network to be engineered to the same high standard, with the longevity to match.” “Nokia Siemens Networks has probably the most rugged and proven product set around, and so, you only want to build it once, just like when you’re building a road network or a rail network or a pipeline. You certainly don’t want to replace it after 5 years. That’s where Nokia Siemens Networks’ strength lies.”

To augment the Nokia Siemens Networks Dynanet Multiplexer offering, CommTel helped to establish Avara in 2002; an independent research and development company with complementary products to integrate into Dynanet. Avara’s advanced Ethernet features offer a perfect fit with the markets CommTel serves.

Now Nokia Siemens Networks have signed a Memorandum Of Understanding with Avara to introduce this new Ethernet & IP functionality to Dynanet, helping CommTel to win 3 new frame agreements. “Dynanet is one of the most stable and strong product sets in this industry. Our business is built on it and in turn so are the businesses of our customers. But it can work against you,” jokes Mr. Steve Carter, CommTel’s After Sales Services Manager.

“When we’re selling our customer support, on a product that rarely falls over, it can be an uphill struggle”. As the market matures and products become increasingly commoditised, a detailed knowledge of the breadth of Nokia Siemens Networks’ portfolio has already helped CommTel to win against the competition. “Certainly customers are becoming more sophisticated and are always trying to push us out of our comfort zone. There’s a strong demand for new technology here”, stated Robert Green, Managing Director, CommTel. “It’s in the Australian culture to push the boundaries, it’s a national willingness to explore. It’s also about the agility of many of our customers as companies, and that’s something that we can match them at.”

“We’re getting a name for ourselves for asking the difficult questions and putting the technology challenge back to Nokia Siemens Networks. I’m happy to say that they haven’t ducked any of our tough demands yet. They really are a strong partner for us.” “We’re firm believers in putting together the best solution for the customer with the products most suited to do so. A full, one vendor solution is not always in the best interests of the customer and we’ll continue to look hard at that, on our customer’s behalf. But these are early days and our appetite for the enlarged portfolio far outweighs any qualms we may imagine for the future.”

The introduction of IP into the utility market has led to a large number of misconceptions from the traditional IT world. Customers who demand deterministic solutions, with known latency delays, are finding that offthe-shelf IT solutions just don’t cut the mustard. “Our customers are demanding better than carrier class IP networks, seeking the benefits of IP with the reliability of the TDM world,” added Simon Mackey, Custom Networks, Nokia Siemens Networks. “This can’t be achieved with a competitor’s product that only has a 3 year guarantee of supply or a 7 year lifespan due to software.”

“At the end of the day, Nokia Siemens Networks products are all about buying something once and letting it do its job for a long period of time. It’s the knowledge that it will be reliable for decades; that it will continue to be available and you won’t have to swap it out after just a few years; and that during that time it will always be supported. This is the long-term strength that customers love to hear when designing their networks and the comfort they need for building their businesses.”

Thanks to feedback from partners such as CommTel and Avara, the Nokia Siemens Networks Dynanet product suite continues to be redeveloped with enhanced features. While continuing to support traditional data networks, it’s now also supporting growth in IP based networks.

 

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