Grant Howe, Country Manager at 3Com Australia, believes that the company's commitment to energy saving solutions was a winning factor in reinstating 3Com and the DEECD's partnership.

Howe said, "At 3Com, we are committed to doing our bit for the environment. Our products are not only some of the most efficient on the market but our commitment is reflected in the entire product life cycle ? from manufacturing right through to end-of-life recycling. The DEECD shares our vision to saving energy, and we value their ongoing commitment."

The deployment to Victorian government schools, is to be completed by October 2008 and will involve 1,600 units of the 3Com Baseline Switch 2900 Plus series of managed voice-ready switches. The reseller will be Ingram Micro, according to the press release.

The DEECD requires its voice and data networks to be reliable and secure at all times, and 3Com said that it  "looks forward to continued success in meeting these needs by providing the department with customised networking equipment over the next three years".