Wescom Credit Union Chooses AT&T's MPLS

By Johanne Torres

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Wescom Credit Union has tapped AT&T (News - Alert) for the telecom to provide a primary private global voice and data network; and a new Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based disaster-recovery network.

 

The financial institution reportedly contacted AT&T to replace its existing Frame Relay network. Via a new contract between both companies, AT&T delivered a fully meshed Internet Protocol (IP)-based disaster-recovery network that will be used as a backup to the primary ATM network. If the ATM network ever fails, the MPLS network will transport all mission-critical financial data from Wescom's 47 remote branches to the company's newly constructed operations center in Anaheim, California.

 

"We're thrilled with the solution that AT&T has provided to Wescom," said Wescom's vice president of Information Technology Sam Sandhu in a statement released on Wednesday. "This is a milestone for our company, because it marks the first time in Wescom's history that mission-critical financial data will be transported over an IP-based network. Not only do we have a stellar disaster-recovery network, but by replacing Frame Relay ports and PVCs with IP circuits, Wescom has been able to lower the cost of its disaster-recovery network and simplify the process for provisioning service at new branch locations."

 

Today's news finds AT&T launching re-branding efforts for its mobile operations arm Cingular (News - Alert) Wireless. AT&T began a new multi-media campaign this Monday, as it transitions Cingular's brand to the AT&T iconic name with advertising and customer communications. The telecom giant began advertising the brand via messages on Web sites and retail stores nationwide, and on company buildings and vehicles. 

 

As part of the transition, callers will also begin to hear the AT&T name mentioned on Cingular voice greetings in the coming weeks. The company will mail merger-transition messages with customer billing and communications in the coming weeks, and the AT&T logo will begin to appear on customer bills starting in the coming months. Customers should notice the "remit to" line for when to making checks out to AT&T. The telecom will notify customers who pay their bills electronically or via credit card deduction of any procedure changes.