Batelco makes history with Alba's new IP telephony solution

"IP telephony is a leading edge technology that offers customers an easy to use, cost-effective and flexible solution to communications requirements," explains Ian Dench, General Manager - Sales and Marketing at Batelco. "It is designed to reduce expenditure in addition to improving communications and enhancing employee performance for business customers."

IP telephony provides an integrated voice and data network that allows staff to make telephone calls via fixed as well as wireless IP telephones, therefore enabling Alba employees to communicate anywhere on the Alba network - even over a remote connection. One of the results is increased productivity since employees will no longer be confined by the geographic location of a phone point or desk.

The Batelco/Alba project is based on world-leading CISCO IP telephony and has been implemented in cooperation with Batelco's systems integration partner Hewlett Packard (HP). The system was integrated with the former PBX system, thereby providing an up-to-date communications solution for the whole Alba plant without the need for any major changes in the 'legacy' voice communication systems.

"We are proud that our Alba project is another historic first for Bahrain's telecommunications industry," says Ian. "The implementation of a state-of-the-art IP telephony system on this scale is an outstanding achievement for all of the Batelco and Alba employees who were involved in this endeavour."

Upon completion, Alba's expansion project is going to be the world's longest aluminium potline, spanning more than one kilometre in length. With a project this size, telecommunications is critical. Batelco's technical know-how and advanced product offering is helping to meet Alba's ever-changing needs and improve their business by dramatically cutting operation costs and increasing employee productivity.