NAIROBI, Kenya
Orange has partnered with managed office solutions provider ESBC and Sight & Sound, the the value-added distributor of Polycom solutions in the Middle East and Africa, to launch the Orange Telepresence Centre. Complete with a Polycom OTX 300 Immersive Telepresence Suite, the commercial facility, which will be hosted at the ESBC’s new Business Centre at the Landmark Plaza, will be used to demonstrate the value of video conferencing to local businesses, thereby making communication more efficient.
Telepresence is gaining popularity as a technology that enables groups of people to meet and collaborate in multiple locations worldwide, while feeling as if they were all in the same room together at the same time. The study, The Telepresence Revolution commissioned by the Carbon Disclosure Project (DCP) and released in 2010, revealed that “telepresence technology can help speed decision making, improve human resource productivity as well as provide employees with a better work-life balance, as a result of reduced business travel.”
“This solution is an immersive experience that supports an eco-friendly approach, reducing carbon emissions generated by air or road travel. As the threat of global climate change grows, there is growing demand on business to implement sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprints by cutting down on high-emission factors,” said Xavier Villegas, Orange chief officer, Business Market who represented Orange CEO, Mickael Ghossein, during the launch.
“Collaborative work groups, global development teams and everyday meetings are enhanced by the clarity, rich video and content detail offered by Polycom’s Open Telepresence Experience (OTX). Communication is an important tool in business and this video conferencing facility will allow dynamic enterprises in Kenya to communicate and collaborate with partners around the world, save on time, travel and resources,” adds FVC’s General Manager for East and West Africa, Ahmed Youssef.
“Our team of experts has been providing Audio Video conferencing solutions to customers in Kenya and this region, for a long time. Our solutions not only equip conference rooms with this technology but also empower the users by connecting from their smart phones and tablets.The service we launch today takes this to the next level by bringing the fully immersive telepresence experience to users,” says the CEO of Sight & Sound, Rajesh Lakhani.
Orange, the provider of the link to power the solution, has also embarked on a countrywide upgrade of its infrastructure, replacing copper with fibre optic cabling. This project will enhance network reliability with the installation of next generation network switches throughout the country. Fibre optic cabling reduces costs of service as well as allowing for the increase in the bandwidth offering.
This will in the long term enable the company build on the best practices and benefits from the expertise of Orange Business Services, its parent affiliate’s enterprise function, bringing a wealth of innovative products and services to Kenya. During the launch, guests got to experience live telepresence with an interactive call with specialists overseas. The launch of the Orange Telepresence Centre was followed by the launch of FVC’s Kenya office, in Nairobi, as the value added distributor of emerging technologies extends its presence in the region.
Daisy Kimkung is a journalism student at Egerton University
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