WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS THINK

DATA COMMUNICATIONS SOLUTION CASE STUDIES FROM OCEANIC BANK

This is a case study scenario presented by Mr. Collins, Head of IT Infrastructure, Oceanic Bank.

1. Location: Abuja City with two main branches and 38 other branches.

2. The Challenge: Our Oceanic Branch network is increasing numerically in different locations in Nigeria. For instance, in Abuja city, the location for this case study, we have 40 branches. Vital information need to be carried on real - time basis from these branches to the head office in Lagos. This information management is critical to the survival of banking operations.

Considering the poor infrastructure availability in Nigeria, various options for relaying this information were evaluated based on agreed criteria, primary of which is to relay the information from the Abuja branches reliably, fast and cost effectively.

3. Exploring the Options:

The following options were evaluated

Fiber optics Connectivity
VSAT
GSM / CDMA
Motorola Canopy Mobile and Fixed Radio Systems.

Fiber Optics Connectivity having reached Nigeria’s up-country locations could easily have been the most preferred option. However, its high cost made it not-very-practical.

VSAT was also observed not to be cost efficient due to the multipoint nature of this solution.

The GSM / CDMA option is not entirely very reliable as its providers give Voice preference over Data.. This preference for Voice means Data cannot be delivered speedily and dependably, making this option non-reliable.

The Motorola Canopy option provides fast deployment, reliability, information security, point-to-point and point-to-multi point capabilities.

In addition, Motorola Canopy’s cost effectiveness positions it as most viable option in our information management infrastructure. The key element in its cost effectiveness is that, with Canopy it is one-off payment.

4. The Preferred Infrastructure for Oceanic Abuja Branches Communications Solutions.

The infrastructure adopted is a combination of Fiber Optics connectivity and Motorola Canopy. In Abuja city, of our 40 branches, two were designated main branches. Fiber Connectivity is used to connect the Head Office to these two main branches in the city while Canopy point-to-point; point-to-multi-point radio is deployed to connect the branches to the Abuja main branches.

5. Infrastructure Delivery

The delivery of the above Oceanic Bank Communications solution infrastructure by Dizengoff followed the following process

Survey of the city and sights to identify needs
Order of Motorola Canopy equipment as - needed
Installation of the equipment as precisely agreed and
Maintenance and Service agreement.

We note that certain key attributes stand Dizengoff out in the delivery of this infrastructure. These include thoroughness in pre-infrastructure deployment survey, speed of solution delivery, professionalism and excellent understanding of the workings of the infrastructure and employee availability as-needed.

Our Abuja city Motorola Canopy – driven - communications solution is now running. We are happy the infrastructure is operating to the minutest plan detail, and that we have had minimal down - time since deploying this solution.

To underscore this, we have further engaged Dizengoff to deploy this same infrastructure for Oceanic Bank operations in Kano, Kaduna, , Aba, Plateau Owerri. We have witnessed the same level of professionalism in each of these projects and will happily continue to use Dizengoff to drive these solutions in many other locations as the need arises.

Looking ahead we have Lagos (entire network), Bayelsa, Enugu, Kwara, Benue and Calabar to follow soon.