OPTUS DEPLOYS THE FIRST MULTI-POINT CISCO TELEPRESENCE SOLUTION IN AUSTRALIA WITH ALPHAWEST

Optus announced today it has successfully completed the first Australian implementation of a multi-point Cisco TelePresence solution, simulating a unique face-face meeting experience across three different locations in Sydney and Melbourne.

Optus is also trialling Asia Pacific's first "Personal TelePresence" system, the Cisco TelePresence System 500, which will be deployed in conjunction with the multi-point solution at its new headquarters in Sydney's Macquarie Park.

The solution was implemented by Optus' ICT services arm Alphawest and was built on the Optus Evolve IP Network. It includes the implementation of a three-screen Cisco TelePresence System 3000 unit at the Optus Macquarie Park campus in Sydney and the Optus Collins Street office in Melbourne, and a single screen Cisco TelePresence System 1000 at Alphawest's Sussex Street offices in Sydney.

John Simon, Managing Director, Optus Business said, "Our next generation IP network, Optus Evolve, was built to support applications such as Cisco TelePresence. The success of this implementation has proven that Optus Evolve provides a robust foundation for the implementation of converged applications, such as TelePresence, in the corporate environment."

Robert Parcell, CEO, Alphawest said, "Cisco TelePresence enhances Alphawest's leadership in the implementation of converged and unified communications solutions, enabling significant productivity and collaboration benefits for our customers, along with substantial financial savings as a result of reduced travel."

This successful TelePresence implementation serves to reinforce Optus and Alphawest's ongoing expertise and experience in unified communications solutions for large enterprises, and Cisco technologies in particular. Alphawest has been a Cisco Gold Certified Partner for over a decade.

Les Williamson, vice president for Cisco Australia and New Zealand, said, "Optus, Alphawest and Cisco continue to build on their long standing relationship to continue to bring the best collaboration technologies to market.

This announcement around Cisco TelePresence shows that Optus and Alphawest are clearly embracing the network as the platform for driving collaboration, productivity, lower costs and better environmental management. This will have benefits for their staff, stakeholders and customers."

TelePresence is a unique offering from Cisco that creates an "in-person" meeting experience over a converged network, delivering real-time face-to-face interactions between people and places, using advanced visual, audio, and collaboration technologies.

These technologies transmit life-size high-definition images and spatial discrete audio. Cisco TelePresence gives companies the ability to replace face-to-face meetings with virtual meetings and as a result significantly reduces their carbon footprint by eliminating unnecessary travel both within Australia and overseas.

Media contacts:
Elizabeth Greene
Optus Corporate Affairs
Tel: 02 8082 1132

Suzanne Maybury
Alphawest
Tel: 02 8922 2861