The telephone system
The University of St Andrews telephone system employs an Ericsson MD110 (running BC12.2 software) with 17 Line Interface Modules (LIMs), distributed in 5 exchanges throughout the University. These LIMs connect approximately 6700 digital and analogue extension ports to the system. (8000 extensions max.). The 5 exchanges are linked by a University owned, dedicated optical fibre Broadband Premises Network (BPN) utilising Fibre Distributed Digital Interface (FDDI) protocol at 100Mbs. Each exchange is connected to the BPN via Ericsson multiplexor units.
With effect from 01 February 2003 the University has provided telephone services for the student population living in University owned Halls of Residence (ResTel). Of the 6700 total extensions in use in the University approximately 3600 are in student residences. Ericsson's DNA software is used by the Telephone Office to administer moves and changes on a daily basis, including defining classes of service and category set-ups.
Voice mail
The University uses Call Express for its voice mail system to provide voice mail services for staff and Students on a single platform. This is run by the ResTel office. All enquiries should be directed to extension 7221.
Call logging
The Telephone Office logs all calls using CTI Data Solution's Proteus Corporate call-logging software, installed on an Intel Pentium III-based Panrix server running Microsoft Windows XP. These call logs are used to generate monthly billing for all Schools' and Units' external call traffic and as a basis for most of the telecoms related reporting requirements.
The ResTel office operates a system provided by BITEK and provides seperate billing arrangements for students within the University Halls of Residence.
System development
The Telecoms and Infrastructure Manager is actively involved in developing a number of interlinked programs, utilising the data generated by the MD110, in Microsoft Visual Basic 6 in order to analyse the running telephone system and to ensure its effective use by staff and students. Likewise the Telephone System Administrator uses Microsoft Access 2000 to analyse the data generated by the system in order to produce a variety of directories and specialised reports for use within the Telephone Office and externally on the University of St Andrews website.
We are constantly revising and updating our skills in order to keep abreast of changes in telecommunications, which happen on an almost daily basis. We have investigated Voice over IP Telephony (VoIP) with a view to providing better services for our clients. However, the current backbone does not give sufficient quality of service (QoS) to support VoIP. An upgrade of the exchange software in December 2005 has brought new innovations which may be of benefit in the future. These innovations are special to type Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telephones (DECT), individual extension profiling, hotdesking and call by name directories for digital extensions.
For more information and any enquiries please call the Telephone System Administrator on ext 2100.