BT certified by Cisco in key Asian nations

Stuart Corner
Monday, 03 September 2007 12:47

IT Industry - Deals

BT has achieved Cisco Multinational certification for its expertise, facilities and performance in the sale, deployment and support of Cisco integrated solutions across the region including China, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.

To achieve the certification BT was required to meet Cisco's standards for networking competency, service and support, and customer satisfaction. Certification requirements include meeting customer satisfaction targets for each Asia Pacific country; having Cisco-certified engineers in each country with certification in unified communications, wireless LAN and security; and passing a thorough Cisco audit process.

According to BT certification also entailed the setting up of specialised labs and the training of more than 70 BT employees in the region. BT claims to have spent around $US2.5 million on the programme. BT says it trained 74 BT staff at a cost of $US433,000. "Total man days (of all personnel) spent in training is 783 days, with a total number of 228 exams passed."

Nathan Bell, BT's general manager of portfolio and partnerships, said: "The Cisco Multinational certification demonstrates that we have a strong pool of highly trained engineers and consultants, and it also enhances our IT portfolio capabilities in the region. As BT transitions from a telco into a global software-driven services company, talented and properly trained people are a critical resource, and this certification is a timely step."

Mike Allen, director of Cisco Asia Pacific channels & operations said; that BT was one of the first global carriers to undergo such a large scale certification in Asia Pacific.