Networking: Interviews

Founder, Nir Zuk, on the vendor’s approach to the local market

Running the internal IT operations of Cisco Systems is a big job not just because of the size of the company -- more than 70,000 employees worldwide and a market capitalisation in the range of $US100 billion -- but also because Cisco is continually developing new IT products across a broad range of technologies and is known for rapidly adopting those products for its own use. Cisco CIO Rebecca Jacoby spoke with IDG News Service on the sidelines of the NetWork conference last week and shared some insights into the legendary enterprise IT company's own enterprise IT.

NICTA CEO, David Skellern, who has been in his post since 2007 and has 20 years in the ICT sector, was one of several keynote speakers discussing strategies for Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) at the recent CeBIT show. He sat down with ARN to discuss the viability of the largest ICT infrastructure project in Australia’s history, as well as Internet filtering and why our industry needs more unity. Skellern will be retiring next year to head over to the UK.

Wireless and networking specialist distributor, Lan 1, is celebrating its fifteenth birthday this year. NADIA CAMERON caught up with managing director, Daniel Lee, to discuss the importance of the NBN, potential acquisitions and his plans for the future.

Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Tony Smith, is vehement in his views about ICT policy. ARN spoke to him about why he won’t oppose mandatory filtering outright and why the National Broadband Network (NBN) will be scrapped if he comes to power.

In the third and final part of an in-depth interview with John Gallant, Scot Finnie, and Editor-in-Chief Eric Knorr, Cisco’s John Chambers discusses the proprietary issue and cloud computing opportunities.

In the second instalment of an in-depth interview, John Chambers talks with John Gallant, Scot Finnie, and Editor-in-Chief Eric Knorr about the changing competitive landscape, Cisco’s datacentre strategy and its relationship with HP.

By almost any measure, Cisco Systems is the biggest fish in the networking pond. Thanks to more than 130 acquisitions, a brisk pace of internal development and a much-discussed new organizational structure that the company is using to attack a slew of new markets, Cisco's reach extends from the consumer to the enterprise and deep into service provider networks. The company offers everything from personal video cameras to high-end telepresence systems, set-top video boxes to, lately, servers for the data center, in addition to more traditional network gear like routers and switches.

Labor Senator, Kate Lundy, is one of the few Government politicians to go on record against the proposed mandatory ISP filter. ARN spoke with her about voting against it, the effects of Gershon on jobs and CeBIT 2010.

Independent senator for South Australia, Senator Nick Xenophon, has a strong voter base and a vital cross-bench seat. He spoke with ARN about the need for negotiation with the Government over ISP filtering, Telstra’s separation and keeping cloud-based information in Australia.

While Cisco Systems branches out into consumer electronics, video, mobile data and other areas, one of its biggest areas of focus today is enterprise data centers. The dominant LAN provider thinks the transformation of data centers through virtualization calls for new kinds of connections and a broader role for network technology and intelligence. John McCool oversees this push as senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's Data Center, Switching and Services group. IDG News Service talked with McCool recently about the company's own role and its partnerships with other vendors in this arena.

In just one decade, M2 Telecommunications has grown from a humble communications equipment manufacturing company to a $400 million business. With its purchase of some of Commander’s assets in June, the company has also become a major player in the ICT channel. M2 CEO, Vaughan Bowen, talks to ARN about the NBN, reseller opportunities and why it pays to be niche.

It’s been a big year for Cisco in more ways than one. Across its global operations, the networking powerhouse was, like many of its peers, hit pretty hard by the economic downturn.

The Federal Government’s Internet filter trial was rife with controversy and as an ISP participant, Highway 1 was right in the thick of it. With the trial now over, Highway 1 general manager, Nicholas Power, spoke to ARN about the ISP’s current stance on an Internet clean feed, his 2010 predictions and the company’s opportunity for resellers.

TransACT and ActeWAGL joined forces four years ago to form Grapevine, an ISP that originally serviced Canberra customers. Since then, it has expanded to encompass the whole of Australia. We talk to the joint venture about the NBN and whether ISPs should be held accountable for users' actions.

Leader of the Family First party, Senator Steve Fielding, is one of several key independents the Government needs to pass policies in the Senate. His party is also a supporter of mandatory Internet content filtering. ARN asked him about ISP filtering, Telstra separations and his recent efforts to bring call centres back onshore.

Asia-Pacific long been recognised as region with strong commercial growth in many sectors including the Internet services industry. ARN caught up with Pacnet Australia CEO, Deborah Homewood, to talk about her company’s focus on Asia, opportunities for resellers and the NBN.

Wireless broadband is already providing Australian users with Internet connectivity and its influence is expected to get even more significant with the rollout of Australia’s National Broadband Network. ARN caught up with BigAir managing director, Jason Ashton, to discuss the state of the broadband market, his thoughts on Internet filtering and what the wireless network operator has planned for the next 12 months.

The Greens party helps hold the balance of power in the Senate and WA Senator, Scott Ludlam, is its technology spokesperson. ARN spoke to Senator Ludlam about his opposition to ISP filtering, his support for a speedy Telstra separation and his ‘pass’ mark for Minister Conroy.

Westcon Group’s first dedicated chief technology officer, Bill Hurley, was initially appointed CIO 12 months ago and is now tasked with overseeing the distributor’s IT organisation while identifying future technologies and capabilities to invest in globally. He caught up with NADIA CAMERON during a recent visit to Sydney to discuss his background, the status of Westcon’s vendor line-up and his emerging IT agenda.