RNS Number:8227S
Thus Group PLC
22 April 2008
Press Release
THUS DELIVERS ETHERNET SOLUTION TO SUPPORT LEARNING
22nd April, 2008 - THUS plc today announced that it has extended its contract
with the Fife and Tayside Metropolitan Area Network (FaTMAN), a consortium of
further and higher education providers, for the provision of a high bandwidth
Wide Area Network (WAN) ethernet service. The extension came on the back of
delivering 100% service availability throughout 2007, exceeding already
stringent service level agreements.
The THUS next-generation network (NGN) solution offers the consortium
reliability and scalability, while enabling more efficient provision of
administration and student support services. In addition it provides a gateway
to improve collaborative working with the wider academic research community. The
ethernet network will enable a variety of applications including internet
activities, collaborative tools in support of e-science, video conferencing and
connection to JANET, the UK's Education and Research Network which connects
educational networks across the UK and around the world.
FaTMAN was established in 1995 to allow the education community to collectively
exploit the benefits new technology could bring and to build a solid foundation
for collaborative research. At the time it was the first academic network of its
kind in the UK to become operational. Today the high performance network
supports learning, teaching, research and administration in further and higher
education institutions across Fife, Angus and the City of Dundee. The provision
of high speed internet enhances access for the academic community for both
students and staff.
Malcolm Bain, Chairman of the FaTMAN Management Committee, commented: "Learning,
teaching and research are important areas for Scotland and make extensive use of
IT. Therefore we aim to provide a strong and reliable communications network
for all our students and staff. They are using our network to make increasingly
sophisticated use of new technologies with comprehensive access to an
ever-growing set of online educational resources. In 2007, THUS consistently
delivered 100% service reliability and then offered highly competitive pricing
in our open tender exercise. So we are delighted to extend a relationship that
combines high performance with excellent value for money."
Phil Male, Chief Operating Officer, THUS plc said: "The technical capability of
our network ensures that we can meet stringent service level agreements and
offer clients high levels of service availability. We are delighted that the
performance of our network, coupled with our experience in the education sector,
provides clients with the assurance they need to put their faith in our
solutions."
ENDS
Owen Campbell Rebecca Honeyman
Senior Product Communication Executive Hotwire
THUS plc
Tel: +44 (0) 141 566 3361
e-mail: owen.campbell@thus.net Tel: +44 (0) 20 7608 2500
web: www.thus.net e-mail: thus@hotwirepr.com
Notes to Editors
About THUS
THUS is a UK-focussed business telecommunications company boasting the UK's
first next-generation network. THUS delivers innovative and effective solutions
to large organisations in the fast changing communications environment. Its
early implementation of MPLS IP VPN technology put it at the forefront of
convergent solutions enabling it to develop the expertise that customers need
today and in the future.
Under the Demon brand, THUS also offers a full suite of advanced business
communication services to small and medium-sized enterprises, ranging from
broadband and MPLS to High Speed Internet and VoIP.
THUS has achieved ISO/IEC 27001:2005, widely recognised as the leading benchmark
for information security management systems, for the Information Security
Management System supporting its MPLS-based next-generation network. In
addition, THUS has maintained ISO 9001:2000, an internationally recognised
standard for quality management systems for internal processes and procedures.
THUS was one of the first UK telecommunications service providers to achieve
full ISO 9001:2000 certification for voice, data and Internet in 2003.
THUS plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange
For further information visit http://www.thus.net and http://www.demon.net.
FaTMAN Network
The FaTMAN network combines open fibres and LAN Extension Services at 100Mbps.
It offers
* 2.5Gbps connections to SuperJANET5 via OC-48/STM-16 Optical Services
Modules (POS)
* 1Gbps Ethernet connections to local universities
* 100Mbps Ethernet connections to local colleges
* 155Mbps aggregated connection for colleges in the Kirkcaldy area
Because FE Colleges have only a single connection, the router to which they are
connected must be as resilient as possible. Therefore, the FaTMAN-5 router which
serves FE has additional redundancy consisting of dual Supervisor modules and
dual power supply units.
FaTMAN is a consortium of the following institutions:
* The University of Abertay Dundee
* The University of Dundee
* The University of St Andrews
* Angus College
* Dundee College
* Elmwood College
* Adam Smith College, Fife (Formerly Fife College and Glenrothes College)
* Carnegie College (Formerly Lauder College)
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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