HNB
- reaching new frontiers in communication
| The
ultra modern headquarters tower building of
the Hatton National Bank has taken banking services
to new heights by implementing the latest technology,
the pride of place being taken by its state-of-the-art
converged communication network. |
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Following
an extensive technology survey and a study of
the requirements both the employees and valued
customers, a secure converged communications
network catering for data, voice and video communications
was designed with the best of breed technology.
An extensive evaluation of the competencies
available in Sri Lanka was also conducted before
the planning, design and implementation of the
converged data and |
communications
network was entrusted to Metropolitan Telecom Services
who have a record in voice and data communication
applications in both circuit switched and IP telephony
environments.
STATE OF THE ART GIGABIT ETHERNET NETWORK
The core of the Network is a Gigabit Ethernet backbone
implemented using single mode fiber optic cables within
this intelligent building. This gigabit Ethernet network
is implemented using Cisco Catalyst 6509 core switches
in redundant configuration. This network is extended
to all floors and provides connectivity to over 400
PC's running the mission critical banking applications.
SECURITY AND INTRUSION DETECTION
The state of the art intrusion detection systems and
firewalls provides the necessary security for the
banking application . The latest technology in security
has been implemented with special demilitarized zones
which allow customer access to the network.
IP TELEPHONY WITH OVER 650 IP TELEPHONES
The Communications within the building have been revolutionized
using the Ethernet network for voice communications
using IP telephony. This is the first large scale
implementation of business class IP telephony with
over 600 IP phones deployed with the building. The
system is equipped with ISDN Digital interfaces which
is interconnected to all the carriers including SLT,
Suntel and Lanka Bell at E1 level. The IP Telephony
solution has been implemented using a separate VLAN
with the network for the optimization of the network.
The IP telephones provide business class telephony
and provide on line information using XML services
developed by the IT division of HNB.
UNIFIED MESSAGING FOR VOICEMAIL, E-MAIL AND FAX
The unified messaging solution integrates Voice mail,
e-mail and fax into a common
mailbox that is integrated in Microsoft Outlook. This
means that users can access voice mail from a mobile
phone, listen to e-mails over the phone where the
next to speech converter will automatically read out
the e-mails stored in the mailbox. Users can record
the reply in the form of a voice message and the unified
messaging system will attach this voice mail message
to the e-mail to the e-mail and send it automatically.
Further Voice mail messages, Fax messages can be accessed
together with e-mail messages using the Microsoft
Outlook application.
IP BASED VIDEO CONFERENCING
Video conferencing over the IP network has been implemented
so that the employees of the bank can conduct face-to-face
meetings without having to be physically present at
the same location. The multi conferencing system allows
up to 12 participants to interact in the same conference.
The IP multi-casting feature enables the senior staff
to make a company wide address. Thus valuable time
is saved by having on line face to face collaboration
devoid of physical movement.
IP CALL CENTERS
Hatton National Bank is the process of complementing
the call center with an IP based call center with
database integration and integration and interactive
voice response systems for automated banking services.
DIGITAL
PBX SYSTEM INTERFACED TO THE IP PBX SYSTEM FOR SEAMLESS
COMMUNICATION
A state of the art Ericsson PBX is installed to
provide over 300 extensions and has been integrated
with the Cisco IP PBX to provide a truly integrated
solution with Digital phones, IP phones and Analog
and faxes supported on one converged network.
Metropolitan
experts and the Engineering and IT personnel of
the Hatton National Bank have created a truly converged
network with the best technology available, used
effectively to provide a secure network catering
for high speed data, voice communication and video
conferencing. This is the first network of such
magnitude, implemented in this part of the region
and the Hatton National Bank's Communication system
has already received recognition as a case study
for converged communications.
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