State government relies on IP telephony

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is the first German state to introduce IP telephony at all of its offices. T-Systems will take over the installation and operation of the IP telephony network.

The administration of the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will henceforth use IP telephony and consequently reduce telecommunications costs. T-Systems will take over the installation and operation of the necessary infrastructure. The company landed the deal after a Europe-wide invitation to bid put out by the state-run company Datenverarbeitungszentrum Mecklenburg-Vorpommern GmbH.

For Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the project is an important part of the state government's E-Government master plan. The state government is taking on a pioneering role in Germany with its migration to the innovative technology at all offices. "We're the first state to introduce IP telephony at all offices of the state administration," said Minister of the Interior Lorenz Caffier at the contract signing. "In other federal states, this technology is only used in selected areas such as in finance administration."

In an initial pilot phase, IP telephony will be tested at the State Chancellery, the state government departments in Schwerin and the police department in Neubrandenburg.