Case Studies
Teleworking from Sydney to Melbourne
Faster Internet Service
A lesson on Campus
The storey on high-rise tenants

Practical business solutions

If you want more from your communications, talk to NEXTEP - we take the time to fully understand your needs.

You'll deal with a real person - a NEXTEP consultant or a sales partner. He or she will take the time to get to know you and your business - and explain how new technology can now be harnessed effectively by even the smallest business.

We own and maintain our own network, so you can expect excellent service and plenty of flexibility in finding ways to meet your needs. Our Network Operations Centre is manned 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

NEXTEP offers:

• Reliable, easy to configure and cost effective Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that link you to clients, suppliers, other offices or even with employees working from home. Low-cost secure network connections between branch offices or home offices
• High-speed, high-capacity Internet access at speeds up to 100 times faster than a 56K modem.
  

To see which solution is right for your business, simply click on the links above.

Case Studies

From Head Office to Branch Office

A medium sized business in South Melbourne is looking for a cost-effective way to link their branch offices in Melbourne and Sydney. Both sites have software and hardware and are looking for a solution that allows a reduction in infrastructure requirements.

Currently, they're in regular contact with each other exchanging data and information. They need to send data quickly and cost-effectively as it's mission critical and has to be sent to accounts payable at the end of each day.

One of the major problems is the branch offices' 56k dial up modems that take a ridiculous amount of time to send the data, causing staff frustration and extra costs from dropouts and dial up problems.

Another key issue is the cost of maintaining and operating multiple servers at their branch offices. They're aware of the benefits a VPN service provides, like increased security, continual access and cost savings but they have decided it's too expensive to set up and run.

Previously, they looked at using traditional leased line services like ISDN and Frame Relay to link their offices, but they're not much faster than a 56k modem and are cost prohibitive. The business is also concerned about the potential downtime to install this new type of solution.

Using NEXTEP VPN services, this business can link its offices through NEXTEP's network. By inter-connecting the offices using NEXTEP, they'll have a VPN that allows them to transfer data and information whenever they want. And it will operate efficiently and cost effectively, so eliminating the daily frustration of slow, unreliable 56k dial up modems. NEXTEP's VPN also allows this firm to rationalise and consolidate its communications infrastructure between the sites and maximise output from head office to branch offices.

Teleworking from Sydney to Melbourne

A company needs to provide remote access or teleworking capabilities for Sydney and Melbourne-based executives. To access the company's local area network (LAN), they're forced to battle with the unreliability and slow speeds of dial up modems.

The company has thought about using ISDN. However, the speed isn't enough to download the information from the LAN to their satisfaction.

Most of the work is based on downloading files from the central server at their head office in Sydney. Sometimes executives need to change documents they're working on and upload them to the head office server.

With NEXTEP this company can access the head office server remotely and telework from home. By using NEXTEP, the executives can download the necessary data and files up to 30 times faster than a basic ISDN service. When an executive needs to upload information into the head office server, NEXTEP's ADSL makes it happen up to 4 times faster than a standard 56k modem. This service also lets them receive and send emails via the office server at a faster rate than before.

Faster Internet Service

A small business that regularly needs to download information from the Internet is fed up with the unreliability and slowness of their 56k dial up modem. This business also relies on email heavily, but due to the lack of network resources has to dial in to their ISP every time they want to check or send emails. The owner has analysed the existing alternatives but decided that the slight increase in speed was not worth the increase in cost.

NEXTEP's Fast Internet is an ADSL service that lets this business download from the Internet at rates of between 6Mbps to 1.5Mbps. This is far greater than the 56k modem they're currently using. Constant Internet access is another NEXTEP Fast Internet benefit. So emails can be received and sent any time, reducing dial up costs and potential downtime.

A lesson on Campus

Today's colleges and universities now place everything from course offerings to registration and grades on their campus computer systems. The problem is, most campus buildings were built before the computer revolution and running network connections throughout a building is expensive.

While most administrative offices are hard-wired, the final hurdle is extending the network to all classrooms and dormitories.

NEXTEP is the economical solution. A DSLAM installed in the campus exchange and connected to the campus network suddenly turns every telephone jack in each room into a LAN connection. With optional telephone service splitters, the line can be used for phone calls and high-speed data without any rewiring expense.

The story on high-rise tenants

A high-rise building, whether offices only or mixed residential/ offices/shops, is perfect for a NEXTEP environment.

Each tenant has different data communication needs. One may want to have a local area network (LAN) on three floors. Another may want high-speed Internet access. A third may need an interstate dedicated data line. As tenants and their needs change, the challenge is to meet them without costly infrastructure upgrades.

NEXTEP can leverage the building's existing telephone wiring to provide all the services needed by each tenant. NEXTEP can support floor-to-floor LANs, high-speed Internet access, and interstate data lines with ease.