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First, can you give a peek into the rationale of a WAN Optimisation solution for the bank. Any specific factors that pushed this decision? How does it take over from the previous environment?
P. Dasgupta: We are a hundred per cent CBS Bank across all offices. The existing backbone is that of MPLS, supported by necessary stand-by points and network back-up, across the research centre as well. It includes RF and CDMA at various installations. Notwithstanding this infrastructure, we observed that stability issues are present while there is also the need of ensuring business uptime and customer service. We do have VSAT linked router set up to go along. But we found that even with this kind of environment, there is a tremendous pressure on links. More so, with regular increase in usage, workload pressure. Then there is forecast of voice-based applications which definitely cry for more bandwidth. Many critical and customer-centric applications are architecturally high demanding on bandwidth. So we were faced with the question — do we upgrade bandwidth a number of times or till a certain point of time. With that in view, we selected CISCO and integrated it everywhere. This is the first time an implementation of this size for a huge scale of 1600 locations has happened in the industry. The deployment is amongst the largest globally for any Public Sector Bank
Manish Agrawal: The idea is to bring our applications and network closer. We will be ahead of many competitors and it will give us an edge.
Key benefits as you see happening?
Manish Agrawal: Bandwidth optimization is main area. Within a span of one year, we would be able to cover investment positively. The technology per se was proven but not adopted so far. From that point of view it would be a win-win deal for both the service provider and the bank as it would demonstrate the strengths of this technology in this space and scale.
When we track the lineage of WAN, from TDM to Frame Relay to ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) to MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), the technology evolution has plateaued after MPLS. What’s your interpretation as a user here?
Manish Agrawal: The problem is that technology may be evolving but most of the new-generation stuff is limited to metros. But for a network of a bank to run, we need to take into span remote locations that can not be segregated. Service providers are inclined towards the big locations. Ironically, it is at remote locations that voice-based applications are developing with pace. That needs bandwidth.
How do you plan to combat factors like networking environment complexity and multiple network protocols or WAN performance issues like competing applications, latency or congestion?
P. Dasgupta: The whole spread would be managed centrally. There is a central Operations Office to take care of it. We will have a single view of all the networks supported by central architecture. With a single vantage point, we will ensure performance and utilization properly.
Why CISCO?
P. Dasgupta: Our requirement was around quality and a robust network backbone. CISCO came up well on commercial as well as technology criteria when we evaluated a number of alternatives. Plus, we have some CISCO equipment as base already so integration issues become less and implementation becomes easier.
So now, with the bandwidth concern taken care of, what new applications are you considering? Are they of the bandwidth-hungry ilk?
P. Dasgupta: Whatever application we are going for, the focus is on client-server architecture. Because people from the field would be accessing, so additional bandwidth requisites would be there. This solution would give us the option for a time breather of at least four to five years.
Manish Agrawal: When you talk about corners of the country, data bandwidth is not running parallel to Internet bandwidth. We also have to provide a solution to 200 locations on VSAT network. We are developing many apps for the distantly rooted branches. WAN will also facilitate bandwidth-intensive applications over the network at UBI's remote branch locations, enabling the effective use of video-based conferencing and collaboration solutions.
Was this roll-out free of challenges? Anything you experienced and tackled on the way?
P. Dasgupta: All movement of equipment and installations has been adequately planned in advance. Performance-wise we did POCs (Proof of Concepts) so we are already through the configuration parts, and so due diligence and technical aspects have been taken care of. Results would be more than satisfactory and we hope that within October this year, all 1600 locations would be tightly packed with the technology, as intended.
So what’s next on the anvil? Any new IT plans?
P. Dasgupta: After being hundred per cent CBS the bank is on the path of consolidation and growth. We want to add more customer-centric features and also add necessary parts for control and regulatory angles. An MIS design set up is what the bank is up to, as we speak. We are also working on a CRM project and a robust information security infrastructure.