New Voice over IP network for OCMW Turnhout

The OCMW (public social welfare service) in Turnhout is the first port of call for all inhabitants of Turnhout, who rely on the service for all their welfare related questions and needs. In addition, the OCMW focuses special attention on a number of specific target groups.

The OCMW Turnhout currently possesses various analogue telephone switchboards distributed throughout various locations. At the same time there is a mix of network installations present as well, which makes the overall management extremely disjointed. OCMW Turnhout would like a more transparent and efficient way of communicating and collaborating, for citizens as well as for their own staff.

Ferranti Computer Systems was called in to install a centrally managed telephony and network environment based on the latest Cisco technologies. A new UPS solution will be provided, a data network with redundancy in the backbone and a wireless network environment. The voice component consists of a Cisco Call Manager with a switchboard operator PC-application and integration with the calling system for the nursing staff. In addition, the fax-to-email system can deliver fax messages to a mailbox. The go-live took place in late December 2009.