Cable&Wireless Worldwide Selects Cisco's Unified Computing System for its Enterprise Cloud Computing Platform

LONDON, September 29, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --

- UK Enterprise Cloud Computing Platform Hosted Within the Wide Area Network

- Meets Enterprise Level Trust, Security, Compliance, Control, Availability and Service Level Requirements

- Customers Will be Able to Combine Dedicated Virtualised Environments With Enterprise Cloud Computing

Cable&Wireless Worldwide has selected Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) as its next-generation data centre platform to deliver an enterprise cloud computing solution held within the Wide Area Network (WAN). Accessed through C&W Worldwide's next-generation network, it is specifically designed to facilitate the security, compliance, control and availability requirements of enterprises. Initially available for customer pilots, the full solution will be launched later this year.

Tom Stockwell, Business Manager at C&W Worldwide comments; "Cloud computing is arguably the most significant change happening in the operating and cost model for IT infrastructures and so far enterprises have been unable to take advantage of the agility it can provide. This collaboration with Cisco will help large organisations and multinational companies evolve and virtualise while addressing concerns around service levels, security, management and compliance."

By combining dedicated virtualised environments with enterprise cloud computing, C&W Worldwide's customers will be able to make the most out of the cost and performance benefits it will offer for day-to-day operations and on a project-by-project basis. Cloud computing can also help enterprise clients looking to extend or rationalise their IT infrastructure over time. Overall the platform will enable IT departments to:

    - Facilitate a secure cloud computing platform
    - Cut hardware costs
    - Improve power and cooling efficiency
    - Enable better server management and flexibility
    - Create a shared IT infrastructure
    - Enhance disaster recovery and business continuity

C&W Worldwide's cloud computing solution is an extension of its data centre management and virtualised hosting services portfolio that is used by many enterprise and public sector customers. Delivered on a virtualised platform across multiple UK data centres, it offers customers flexibility and control to create virtual computing systems for everyday operations and quickly scale up as and when they are needed to meet demanding timescales for new projects.

Wendy Mars, Director of Data Centre and Virtualisation, European Markets at Cisco concludes; "We are working very closely with C&W Worldwide to offer 'on-demand' services for enterprises with Cisco's UCS platform as an integral part of the architecture. This strategic relationship enables enterprise customers to benefit from Cisco's UCS technology with its optimised performance for running virtual environments and C&W Worldwide's extensive experience at managing data centres and delivering managed hosting services."

About Cable&Wireless Worldwide

Cable&Wireless Worldwide (LSE: CW.) aims to be the first-choice provider of mission critical communications. The Company is one of the world's leading critical communication providers delivering a range of high-quality managed voice, data and IP-based services and applications to large corporates, multinational companies, governments, carrier customers and resellers across the UK, Asia Pacific, India, Middle East & Africa, Continental Europe and North America.

In the UK, Cable&Wireless Worldwide owns the country's largest fibre network dedicated to business users of telecoms reaching 20,500km in length, and providing ubiquitous UK access through a combination of fibre, digital, microwave, radio and leased circuits. The network has presence in more than 400 towns and cities in the UK, with 802 unbundled exchanges covering 55% of the population.

On an international scale, Cable&Wireless Worldwide's global next-generation network (NGN) stretches to more than 500,000km, including interests in 69 global cable systems, and provides connectivity to 153 countries. The Company's Multi-Service Platform, an IP-based next-generation platform that operates across the NGN, offers a single environment on which voice and data applications can be converged to drive business efficiencies. The network is uniquely designed with inbuilt resilience and the capability to re-route traffic across diverse paths in the event of failure of one or more paths, particularly at the international level.

With more than 6,300 colleagues globally, Cable&Wireless Worldwide is committed to delivering exceptional customer service and developing long term partnerships with its customers.

    To find out more, please visit http://www.cw.com

    PR Contact:
    Rebecca Honeyman/Claire Lorimer
    Hotwire
    [email protected]
    +44(0)20-7608-4667

SOURCE Cable&Wireless Worldwide