Melbourne, Australia - NEC Australia, a leading ICT solutions and services company, has been awarded a 12 month contract to deliver Proof of Concept of a software-defined wide-area network (SD-WAN) as a fully managed service for the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Finance, Services & Innovation (DFSI).

The Government workforce increasingly relies on robust, real-time information and communications technology (ICT) networks, facilities and services. The Proof of Concept allows DFSI to test the capability of new technology and its capacity to increase the service and operational benefits to NSW Government agencies.

The project will see NEC manage SD-WAN across a number of sites including network design, testing, installation and commissioning, 24/7 Helpdesk & network operation centre and professional services to connect DFSI throughout NSW. NEC will deliver and support these services via its Australian based workforce and technical service centres.

For this unique project, NEC partnered with Silver Peak and Cisco Meraki to explore the potential of this emerging technology in reducing carriage unit costs and improving service performance, particularly in regional areas. The results of this Proof of Concept may be used to shape future agency WAN strategies.

NEC Australia is committed to NEC’s global ambition to orchestrate a brighter world by creating social value through cutting edge technologies that support safer, sustainable and prosperous societies.

"The agreement with DFSI is another example of NEC’s leadership and expertise to provide innovative solutions such as SD-WAN to enable the NSW Government to test the capacity to reduce operational cost and deliver operational benefits,” said Andy Hurt, Director of Sales and Solutions at NEC Australia.

“The NSW Government is a leader in digital government services. We’re continually looking for better ways to engage and interact with citizens. New technology like SD-WAN enables us to achieve these goals by making IT systems powering digital services more reliable and cost effective,” said Tony Ritchie, Executive Director, ICT Procurement, DFSI.