Queensland-based integrator, NetOptions, has scored a services contract with the Catholic Education Office (CEO) in the Diocese of Rockhampton to bring 28 primary schools online.
The deal is part of the CEO's Connecting Classrooms project. NetOptions will be responsible for upgrading HP ProCurve switches with gigabit transceivers, as well as providing a Web portal, centralised administrative applications, financial management and remote IT maintenance. The project also involves connecting all school buildings to local networks for Internet connectivity and LAN support.
NetOptions chairman, Richard McAlary, said the CEO had been one of its major clients for the past four years. The latest win, which was worth $300,000, further strengthened the relationship. The technology rollout will be completed in June.
"We are supplying all of the hardware equipment as well as services, consulting, pre and post sales support as required," he said. "What we are seeing here is that through the dropping price of hardware, our clients in the education sector are able to afford much more sophisticated solutions and are able to technically progress."
IT manager for the CEO, Jason Ramm, said the decision to go with ProCurve and NetOptions was based on providing the right infrastructure for its Connecting Classrooms project.
"We have a strong focus on using HP equipment in our schools and we wanted to maintain that. This deal with NetOptions was just a natural progression," he said.
NetOptions was acquired by Melbourne-based services company, Datacom, in September.
