Arrow Energy builds converged network

Arrow Energy, an Australian integrated energy company with access to more than 80,000 square kilometres of coal seam gas acreage close to Queensland’s three key markets - Brisbane, Townsville and Gladstone - has aggressive plans to achieve year-on-year growth of 100% for the next few years.

This rapid growth means its communication system needs to quickly and dynamically adapt to changing needs. In Australia, Arrow has offices in Brisbane, Dalby and Moranbah. Internationally, the company has offices in Singapore, China, India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Each of these offices services very remote areas where the company gas production wells are located. With eight sites and a mobile phone bill of between $40,000 and $50,000 per month, Arrow Energy’s goal was to decrease costs and build an infrastructure capable of facilitating communication between sites.

Integ worked closely with Arrow Energy to determine the best communications strategy for its fast-growing business across its many sites, while providing a strong and secure platform for future productivity-enhancing applications.

As the leading independent coal seam gas company in Australia, Arrow took the time to evaluate its communications strategy and was not tempted by a knee-jerk reaction to quickly and simply replace its old systems. With disparate PBXs that could no longer service its existing needs, it sought the advice of Integ.

According to Arrow’s Senior IT Support Officer, Giles Newton, Integ conducted a detailed assessment of both the company’s existing infrastructure, communication requirements and anticipated future growth, and had an excellent understanding of the business and its requirements.

“We have made a significant investment in Integ, not only as a customer, but also in our commitment to include them as vital members of our extended team. For Integ to best assist us with the tools to continue to help us manage our growth, it is essential that both parties invest in a long-term partnership, and we have done this.”

Arrow Energy needed a new telephony solution to connect its three main sites at Brisbane, Dalby and Moranbah and its three offshoot production sites which connect to these main sites for data and communications. Already connected via wireless links, the challenge was to use the IP network to carry its communications from these larger sites to connect all remote sites, reducing call costs and making its operations more efficient.

Following an intensive consulting process, it was quickly determined that a new core data network was also required - a robust and highly scalable data network to carry its voice traffic. Arrow’s rapid growth plans gave further impetus to the necessity of the project.

With the requirement for a tight implementation period, importance was placed not just on the solution but on Integ’s ability to integrate a large voice and data network, under time-pressured conditions.

The new solution has identical networks so all staff can work effectively from any office - remote or otherwise - as if they are in the Brisbane office. Arrow’s intent with the new solution, with the help of dual-mode phones (Wi-Fi and 3G), is to provide simplicity for the users.

Newton explained there were many advantages with Integ’s solution.

“GSM diallers at key sites ensure that least cost routing rules can be applied with the aim of halving its monthly mobile bills.”