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Voorhees Cuts Telecommunications Costs with VoIP, Videoconferencing Solutions
10/30/2007
Voorhees College in South Carolina has completed a multi-phase deployment of new voice and data solution to enable distance learning, increase bandwidth, and add emergency communications services. The college partnered with CDW-G for planning and implementation, with systems provided by Verizon and Sprint.
According to Timothy Kentopp, CTO, Voorhees had been experiencing difficulties finding telecommunications systems owing to the college's rural location.
"Rural areas often lack competitive options. We were challenged to find cost-effective and reliable telecommunications service and support," Kentopp said in a statement released last week. "Our relationship with CDW-G has been a win-win strategic partnership. CDW-G's solution enabled us to realize a considerable reduction in our monthly operating expenses, while allowing us to step into the 21st century with new systems that extend instructional programs to each of our four campuses."
In the first phase of the deployment, Voorhees expanded its data bandwidth (actually quadrupled it) with a Verizon data solution. In the second phase, according to CDW-G, the college implemented systems to enable distance learning and videoconferencing with MPLS IP networking technologies supplied by Sprint for video and VoIP. And the third phase introduced telecommunications services, including, for the first time, 911 emergency service support. CDW-G said it "leveraged its relationship with BellSouth and PAETEC Communications to upgrade telecommunication facilities in the area" in order to provide services that were previously unavailable to the college. According to Kentopp, the final result after the implementation was a monthly cost savings of about half.
"It is an awesome cost savings when you take into account that our new monthly bill includes the cost of a new PBX and IP phones," he said.
Voorhees College is a liberal arts school that serves about 600 students in Denmark, SC, along with two satellite campuses in South Carolina and one in Augusta, GA.
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About the author: Dave Nagel is the executive editor for 1105 Media's educational technology online publications and electronic newsletters. He can be reached at dnagel@1105media.com.
Have any additional questions? Want to share your story? Want to pass along a news tip? Contact Dave Nagel, executive editor, at dnagel@1105media.com.
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