IBM services wins role in Perth WiMAX rollout

IBM's global technology services division has picked up work from Perth WiMAX operator vividwireless and ISP iiNet as part of a global alliance with Juniper Networks.

The firm's executive of integrated communications services, Craig Campbell, said the services division was breaking out of its traditional enterprise space to also focus on the service provider market.

He said IBM was "in negotiation with a couple of big carriers" to take Juniper gear and IBM services.

The division will also provide staging, initial testing and on-the-ground support for Juniper core routers in the vividwireless WiMAX network in Perth.

IBM would also provide either extra routers on vividwireless sites or have a "hot standby in the corner [of the IBM office] in case of equipment failure in the network.

"We've purchased Juniper stock and we've got kit in our areas ready to go if anything fails," Campbell said.

"There's a two-hour response time on Juniper technology."

Campbell said IBM's services division was also involved in a core network upgrade at Perth-based ISP iiNet.

"We haven't been playing very aggressively in the service provider space in Australia [until now]," Campbell said.

"It's really since forming the relationship with Juniper in the beginning of 2008 that we started to target that space.

IBM global technology services traditionally competed with the likes of Dimension Data in the enterprise market but now we're coming up against the likes of Nokia-Siemens Networks [as well]."

Campbell believed the agreement had a reciprocal effect for Juniper in opening the company up to more enterprise deals.