Barloworld Handling to get converged global data and comms network from SAS

The deal will see SAS link Barloworld’s 75 sites across Europe and North America, with a network that supports all of the company’s voice, data and video communications across the company’s infrastructure. To connect Barloworld Handling’s headquarters in Maidenhead, UK and Charlotte, US, as well as a network of logistic support centres and training facilities on both sides of the Atlantic, SAS has designed an infrastructure using BT IP Clear Reach that will link the company’s European operations and Verizon Private IP for those in the US. SAS says it will also establish performance thresholds to ensure application delivery and availability across the network and, once the installation is complete, will monitor, manage and support the infrastructure. It will also administer fault resolutions and carrier management for Barloworld. Given the size and scope of the project, Barloworld says it wanted a managed communications solution that went beyond traditional carrier-based offerings, which are generally limited to bandwidth and throughput guarantees. It wanted proactive monitoring and support of all devices and applications, no matter where they are located. “The fact that the SAS Group isn’t tied to any particular vendor means it’s the ideal partner to implement our new network,” says Rob Tennant, IT director, at Barloworld Handling. “It would be very risky to build an international, 75 site WAN, incorporating multiple carrier networks supporting mission critical voice, video and data devices and applications, without the help of a partner with the vendor relationships and knowledge to design the best possible solution for our business.”