SD-LAN service launched to help monitor COVID compliance

Macquarie Telecom, part of the Macquarie Telecom Group, has launched an SD-LAN service, following increased demand from its customers for greater performance, automation and intelligence in Wi-Fi networks, and cloud connectivity.

SD-LAN (software-defined local area networking) is an application-driven architecture that decouples hardware and software in Wi-Fi networks, making them easier to operate, integrate with other network components and scale. It builds on the principles of software-defined networking (SDN) and software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN).

Macquarie will invest $3.9 million in personnel, operations, and research and development (R&D) over the next five years to build out the SD-LAN service. Macquarie Telecom has successfully trialled the SD-LAN service with an Australian tyre and auto repairs company and an ASX-listed dental company, with both organisations signed up for a wider rollout.

With the threat of unexpected COVID-19 restrictions still affecting Australia, the service can be used to help offices, restaurants, airports and other industries keep count of the number of people in a premises, helping to ensure compliance with government or company policies.

Luke Clifton, Group Executive at Macquarie Telecom, said the SD-LAN service uses anonymised location analytics to regulate the density of people in a given floor plan, triggering an alert when that number is reached and a new Bluetooth or Wi-Fi device enters the premises.

“The application of this technology is incredible for office managers balancing a hybrid workforce, restaurants and hospitality venues with limits on numbers, and airports once they return to increased levels of travellers. Limits can be set, adjusted and fed to operational teams in minutes,” said Clifton.

Macquarie has engaged Juniper Networks-owned Mist Platform to develop its SD-LAN service. This uses AI and machine learning to identify all the data points in a network — creating a baseline for ‘the norm’ — and constantly assess and correct anomalies to improve performance.

The SD-LAN service complements Macquarie’s partnership with Juniper Networks and supports Macquarie’s SD-WAN service, which it pioneered in Australia in 2017. The VeloCloud-powered SD-WAN can integrate to Mist via VMWare-owned network analytics company Nyansa.

“We are investing in technologies and partnerships that enable Australian businesses to adapt to a new and fast-changing norm. SD-LAN is a customer-first architecture that will help companies automate and stay at the forefront of technology they need. The service will be fully managed and supported by our dedicated customer support team here in Australia,” said Clifton.

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