Council unifies data network

By ADAM GIFFORD

The Taupo District Council is switching its data and voice services to an 802.11b wireless network from Auckland private network builder Chiliad Communications.

IT manager Susan Souren said the council needed to upgrade its systems and wanted to bring remote sites in Turangi and Mangakino into the main network.

"We were looking at a way to standardise connectivity," she said.

"The main driver was delivery of services to sites like our services centres, visitor centres and water treatment plant.

"This means we can give our people more information, like electronic maps, when they are out in the field."

Chiliad sales manager Mike Dagg said the Taupo installation differed from those the company had built for other councils because it was, in fact, two networks.

"At the lower-demand sites which just require data, we have deployed 2.4 Mhz gear because of the cost," Dagg said.

This would allow the council to make more use of telemetry to monitor its water and sewerage businesses and get early warnings if things went wrong.

At higher-demand sites Chiliad was working in the 5.8 Mhz band with 10Mb of throughput. The setup would save the council money.

Dagg said both networks had high security built in. Normal scanning software could not detect the radio signal.

Souren said that centralising the council's phone system on one access point meant it could give all staff access to the Zeacom phone messaging system.

"We are already streamlining our systems and pulling back servers from remote sites, which bring additional cost savings," she said.

"It also makes virus and security management easier, and it means we don't have to have people sending in back-up tapes from the various sites."

Taupo is leasing the network from Chiliad under a five-year deal.

"We expect a lot of change in the wireless area in the next three or four years so we want to remain flexible."