LBC embarks on P300-M IT infrastructure project

The country’s biggest courier service is embarking on an ambitious P300-million five year- information technology infrastructure project aimed at improving the delivery of services.

LBC Development Corp. has tapped Globe Telecom to provide the domestic frame relay network covering various areas in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, that will make connections to the former’s branch offices nationwide faster and more cost-efficient.

The initial phase of the project involves linking up 35 major nodes covering various remote sites of LBC and its subsidiaries. Through the establishment of a wide area network (WAN), information can be sent immediately from one branch to another via computers, thereby, allowing easy tracking and tracing of product delivery on real time.

LBC executive vice president Santi Araneta said that they have decided to put up an information technology network under the name of W Networks to handle all network requirements of LBC’s subsidiaries such as LBC Express — Domestic, LBC Express — International, LBC Express — USA, LBC Bank and LBC Travel.

Araneta said that W Networks has already designed an integrated network for the 477 remote sites of LBC in the country.

The succeeding phases of the project would include additional major nodes to the frame relay network, as well as the expansion of LBC’s international bandwidth connection to the US and other affiliates in Asia.

"In reality, technology is just technology. Anyone can deliver it. But at the end of the day, what matters most is who can give you the best service before, during and after you avail of that technology," Joaquin L. Teng, Globe vice president for fixed network group, said.

Teng pointed out that Globe, through its GlobeData brand, was able to put up the frame relay network in less than its 30 to 45- day commitment to LBC.

Globe uses the Multi-Service Digital Data Network (MSDDN) powered by Cisco Systems. It delivers a comprehensive suite of data networking solutions which allowed Globe to develop solutions tailor fit to the requirements of LBC.