Fibernet lands multi-million pound contract with Nationwide Building Society

January 9, 2003--UK-based Fibernet Group plc today announced that it will provide Nationwide Building Society with an end-to-end fiber-optic network that will enable the Society to implement real time replication and restoration of data and business critical applications, using Fibre channel and DWDM technology.

The fiber-optic network will link Nationwide's Swindon and Northampton data centers, extending some 158 km. Its primary function will be real time replication of data stored on servers and mainframes at the Society's main technical centers. The network will allow Nationwide to perform 'synchronous mirroring' between sites using a Fibre Channel and DWDM solution, supplied by Fibernet. Rollout completion is scheduled for the first half of 2003.

"We chose Fibernet's hybrid managed service because it gave us the control over the network we needed, allowing us the flexibility to utilize our support facility to best advantage, while ensuring that Fibernet was still in a position to be able to meet our stringent service level requirements," asserts Chris Woolhouse, purchasing manager at Nationwide. "In addition, as Fibernet is partnering with HP [Hewlett Packard], who already supply support services to Nationwide, the chosen solution will easily integrate into our existing support regime. The length of the fiber network is also a crucial factor where synchronous mirroring is concerned, and Fibernet was able to work with us to provide the shortest distance to ensure reliability."