Credit: Carways
Australian vehicle transport company Carways has dropped Telstra as its network carrier after suffering from years of regular network outages.
The interstate transporter had worked with Telstra for the last 15 years, but found its networks were becoming too “outdated and complex”.
The company has since tapped Macquarie Telecom to provide mobile, voice, SD-WAN and business NBN data services, a move it claims has improved safety and reduced costs.
“We were suffering from regular network outages, which could potentially leave drivers unable to contact us in an emergency, a particular concern for drivers working overnight,” Carways IT manager Patrick Kashani said. “Since the switch to Macquarie, we’ve had zero outages across our network.”
As part of the agreement, Macquarie Telecom will deploy its business NBN services and mixed carrier networks, with a transition to a full NBN network expected as the national roll-out continues.
According to the company, which operates across NSW, Queensland, the ACT, South Australia and Victoria, the deployment of Macquarie Telecom has increased the uptime of network services and enabled it to develop a new application to simplify tasks such as receiving jobs, inspecting vehicles and obtaining customer signatures.
In addition, the company claims to have cut its telecommunications bill by around 30 per cent since making the switch from Telstra.
As well as outages, Carways was becoming concerned with driver fatigue, especially as each state has different regulation for hours drivers can spend on the road and the number of breaks required.
Kashani now hopes the new network will support the eventual development of an application that can monitor drivers’ fatigue management as they travel interstate.
“Carways is unfortunately yet another Australian company being abandoned by a tier one telco,” Macquarie Telecom group executive Luke Clifton said.
“Left with a complex, outdated network, unnecessarily high costs, poor customer service and other issues such as complex billing, the company was put in a position where its drivers’ safety could be compromised and innovation stifled.”
“We’ve worked closely with Carways to develop a network that aligns to its needs, ensuring drivers are supported, cutting unnecessary costs and future proofing the company’s business to deliver the services its customers, suppliers and sub-contractors need.”
