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Australian gov saves $12 mn with telepresence

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CIOL Bureau
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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: The Australian Government has announced that it saved $12 million by cutting down expenses relating to travel with telepresence.

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Telstra and Cisco had deployed one of the largest national telepresence networks in the country, the Australian Government's National TelePresence System.

In Canberra, the government announced the TelePresence solution had achieved productivity, sustainability and cost benefits, with the service hosting more than 1,031 official meetings totalling more than 1,660 hours.

For one TelePresence meeting connected to 12 different locations, the government estimated to have saved $1,00,600 in costs relating to travel.

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The government also added that by cutting down its travel rates, it has in turn reduced carbon emissions.

Philip Jones, executive director, product management at Telstra said the announcement indicates video conferencing has come of age.

"A modern meeting today is one that uses technology such as high definition TelePresence to bring people from across the country together for a meeting without the need for travel. Telstra managed the planning, designing and deploying of the National TelePresence System in Government offices all across the country. Our combined network and project management skills means we have now delivered a proven solution to a national Government audience that is capable of supporting the Government as it strives to deliver ICT deployments that deliver genuine productivity, sustainability and cost savings," Jones said.

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Announced in February 2009 as a joint initiative with Telstra and Cisco, the deployment of Cisco TelePresence units operating over the Telstra Next IP network has been operating for 18 months.

The service incorporates 36 Cisco TelePresence sites connecting the seven Commonwealth Government offices, Prime Ministerial and Cabinet offices, Parliament House and the offices of Premiers and Chief Minister agencies in every state and territory to one highly secure, high definition video conferencing facility.

Ken Boal, Director of Public Sector, Cisco Australia said the National TelePresence System, said: "The Australian Government is at the global forefront by using immersive video technology to bring key decision makers together to solve critical national issues."

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