Talinda magazine issue 1 August 2015

Newsletter ISSUE 1: JULY 20152015 Issue 1: August Ho s p ital i t y

E VE N T S

fun wifi facts

ideal interiors expo

Did you know fun facts on WiFi p.6

Sneak peak into the expo p.14

MEET KEZIAH NJUGUNA

E d u c at i o n

She tells us more about her new role in Talinda and lets us in on why she became a Network Engineer.

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distance learning Smart technology p.13

p ro d u c t

ruckus wifi Future Proof Your Networkp.11

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TA L I N DA E A S T A F R I C A

Vision: Eastern Africa’s Leader in ICT solutions for Hospitality and Education Mission: We consistently provide ICT solutions to the Hospitality & Education sectors in East Africa that deliver an outstanding customer experience and long term commercial value

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C ONT E NT S MAGAZINE 5 OL E S E RE N I MA KE S TH E RIGH T C H OIC E F O R TH E IR GU E S T W I- FI Olesereni switches to Ruckus Wi-Fi we see how this has changed the hotel’s guest wi-fi experience.

6 W I- FI A P RE RE QU IS ITE FOR B U S IN E S S We take a look at how WiFi has become a need in the hospitality industry

7 802: 11: AC IS H E RE Future proof your network with ruckus WiFi solutions »»p.12

8 Events ideal interiors expo Picture speak : A sneak peak into the expo.

11 GL OB A L TV, A TRU E DIGITA L E X P E RIE NCE We take a look at Quadriga’s IPTV solutions and why they have the best to offer for the hospitality industry

12 meet keziah njuguna talinda’s first female engineer Keziah lets us in on why she became a Network Engineer. »»p.4

15 E DU C ATION MOVIN G TOWA RDS TE C H N O L O GY Education has shifted focus into using technology we take a look at the technology Talinda has to offer in this sector.

Contacts: Baraka Center, Suite 4, Opposite EKA HOTEL, Mombasa RoadP. O. Box 6560, Nairobi, Kenya Mobile:+254 20 8077704 info@talinda.net, www.talinda.net

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TA L I N DA E A S T A F R I C A

Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi Delivers Hospitality’s Most Flexible Deployment Options. Providing faster, more reliable Wi-Fi services at a lower overall cost of ownership is essential.

It must be everywhere, indoors and out, and stable and strong enough to support the most demanding multimedia applications.

Future Proof Your Network RUCKUS INTRODUCES FUTURE IS NOW PROGRAM TO UPGRADE YOUR WIFI NETWORK

The ZoneFlex R710

For a limited time, Ruckus Wireless is offering end customers significant discounts when they replace their old a/b/g/n access points with the new Ruckus 802.11ac access points.

Choose the world’s first 802.11ac Wave 2 access point, for peerless performance, or the exceptionally priced 802.11ac Wave 1 access point for the perfect balance of cost and performance. Trade-up applies to all legacy Ruckus and competitive products.

The ZoneFlex R500

CALL US TODAY FOR MORE INFO Baraka Center, Suite 4, Opposite EKA HOTEL, Mombasa Road P. O. Box 6560, Nairobi, Kenya Mobile:+254 20 8077704 info@talinda.net www.talinda.net

Tarun l i n d atill N eSeptember w s l e t t e r | J u2015 ly 2015 Offer

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olesereni makes the right choice for their guests wi-fi network HOSPITALITY OLE SERENI - LUXURY HOTEL IN NAIROBI There is something breathtaking about waking up to the sight of zebras, giraffes, ostriches and gazelles grazing right outside your window. This is the kind of treat you can only enjoy at OleSereni, the only city hotel by the game park.

Technology has rapidly evolved and the world has gone mobile, with the rapid adoption of smartphones and tablets. People now work from anywhere in the car, at home, at the gym. Hospitality too has changed, gone are the days when Wi-Fi supplemented the cable connection in the hotel room.

Hotel guests are no longer bound to their desks but now prefer to work from anywhere within the hotel at their convenience, hence the need to be constantly connected.

Olesereni understood this clearly when guest complaints were on the rise. Some guests went as far as checking out of the hotel because of the inconsistent Wi-Fi connection. The hotel at the time had a cocktail of Wi-Fi devices that they had deployed. However over time these devices could not meet the growing demand of the hotels internet users. The signal was poor and mobility was a challenge.

Guests could not access internet on the go, mobility was limited and

this frustrated the guests.

After an in-depth search for a solution to their problem, Olesereni invited Talinda East Africa, to offer a solution. Our answer to the problem was based on ruckus wireless equipment which is the best and a favorite among many hotels in the region. Olesereni chose Talinda as their preferred vendor because of the positive feedback that they had received from other hotels who had previously used their services. Talinda did not disappoint, according to the IT manager at Olesereni Nicodemus Kilunda, “Talinda have offered the hotel unmatched support throughout the deployment, as well as great service”.

Since Ruckus was deployed guest complaints are a thing of the past, guests now enjoy seamless connectivity throughout the hotel.

According to Nicodemus Kilunda IT Manager Oleserini “Ruckus so far is the finest in the market, Talinda East Africa has done a good job at deploying the solution. They need to maintain it and tell us what we need to do to make the guest experience more memorable”

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WI-FI A PREREQUISITE FOR BUSINESS HOSPITALITY

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The way that WiFi connects to your, Computer, Laptop, Mobile Device, is by a WiFi card which can either be internal (in newer Laptops and Computers) or external (which is used in old models).

Internet connectivity is no longer a luxury but more of a need.In most restaurants, hotels and cafe’s wifi is now a standard feature.

However in the hospitality industry what comes to mind in terms of wifi is reliable, simple and dependable wifi. Wifi connectivity has now become a basic need for hotels, it is a prerequisite for doing business.

Talinda East Africa, has been providing such solutions to the hospitality sector for the past five years, and we have created a name for ourselves as one of the most reliable service providers in the industry. We deploy various Wifi solutions depending on the client’s needs. One such solution is Ruckus zone flex, Simply the Smartest Wireless for a Mobile

World. Ruckus offers Ultra-fast and Reliable Smart Wi-Fi Access Points with Adaptive Antenna Technology.

One Network For All Converged Services Today, hotels need Wi-Fi for far more than just Internet access.

With Ruckus dual-band 802.11n access points, hoteliers can now deploy a single, reliable wireless infrastructure to concurrently support all essential business applications including: tiered highspeed Internet access (HSIA), point-of-sale terminals, IP-based video on demand (VOD), back office and service optimization services, voice over IP (VoIP), digital signage, and kiosks, and in-room IP-enabled devices of all kinds.

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WiFi is a short form of Wireless Fidelity, expressing the possibilities of connecting wireless in cable like speeds.

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The Wi-Fi Alliance defines Wi-Fi as any “wireless local area network” (WLAN) product based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 802.11 standards”.

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802:11:ac IS HERE RUCKUS WIFI

FUTURE PROOF YOUR NETWORK ZONEFLEX R710 ZoneFlex R710: The ZoneFlex R710 redefines high-speed and high-capacity WiFi. The first 4x4:4 MU-MIMO Wave 2 AP enables customers to maintain a reliable wireless network in high-density, capacity-challenged RF environment. It delivers highest performance Smart WiFi access point, increased device density, and WiFi monetization with Internet of Things

ZONEFLEX R500 ZoneFlex R500: The ZoneFlex R500 delivers high-performance and reliable 802.11ac wireless networking at a competitive price point. It was built for enterprises requiring reliable high speed client connectivity.

(IoT) technologies enabling new business models for the Enterprises & Service Providers. The ZoneFlex R710 is available now.

It is ideal for a variety of medium density enterprise and hotspot environments including SMBs, hotels, retail outlets, and branch offices. The ZoneFlex R500 is available now.

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TA L I N DA E A S T A F R I C A

EVENTS IDEAL INTERIORS EXPO EVENTS

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Mercy and Annabel at the Ideal Interiors Expo, the expo is held annually and it targets the hospitality industry among other industries.

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The Talinda team at the Ideal Interiors expo, that was held at the oshwal centre in westlands.

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Visitors at the stand are taken through the prducts on display.

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Mercy takes a visitor at the stand through the various products that were on display which included, cisco IP phonesand telepresence , ruckus and hospitality TV.

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The Talinda team recieves an award at their stand from the organizers of the ideal interiors Expo

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MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL AWARDS QUADRIGA WORLDWIDE GPNS CERTIFICATION QUADRIGA Quadriga’s knowledge and experience managing hotel networks, internet provision and digital IP systems stands up to Marriott’s strict examination.

capability to install and support a reliable high-speed internet access (HSIA) solution according to Marriott’s comprehensive specifications.

Quadriga Worldwide, a leading international provider of guest technology managed services for the hospitality industry, has become the third interQuadriga is a leading interna- national European technology tional provider of guest tech- supplier to achieve Marriott nology managed services for International’s rigorous Global the hospitality industry and Property Network Standards our commitment is to maxi- (GPNS) certification. mise a customers’ on-property value and guest satisfaction Highly regarded throughout the hospitality industry, Marriott GPNS is designed to achieve an optimal guest experience through consistent and high-quality internet services. To obtain certification, Quadriga underwent extensive testing to demonstrate its

Marriott created the GPNS program to ensure industryleading internet consistency in its 4,100 properties located around the world across 18 prestigious brands, including Marriott Hotels, The RitzCarlton, JW Marriott, Bulgari, EDITION, Renaissance, Gaylord Hotels, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, Moxy, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Protea Hotels, Marriott Executive Apartments and Marriott Vacation Club timeshare brand.

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Source: Quardiga.com

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G LOBAL TV, A TRUE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE QUADRIGA IPTV To enable guests to really relax in their rooms and to enjoy a true home away from home experience, Our IPTV solutions can be adapted to meet your specific requirements. For customers who have selected either Sensiq, our guest communications portal or Genesis, our proven internet and enterQuadriga offers you access to tainment solution, IPTV can be thousands of high quality digital TV seamlessly integrated into both, and Radio channels from around thus increasing the range of the world. content available for your guests and enhancing their overall entertainment experience.

Source: Quardiga.com

system and our services include the supply, installation and maintenance of the latest digital TV equipment.

We can also support many of our system customers with the option to provide digital television channels to their guests without any significant upgrading and reinvesting in new digital TVs in hotel bedrooms.

Our experience also extends to advice and recommendation on the most optimal and cost effective TV channel plans based on your hotel’s Additionally complete stand- guest profile and requirements. alone professional IPTV solu- Quadriga supports IPTV options tions are offered to customers over CAT 5/6 and fibre and who do not have an in-room coaxial hotel TV networks.

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MEET KEZIAH NJUGUNA TALINDA’S FIRST FEMALE ENGINEER INTERVIEW Meet Keziah a young talented lady, who just joined the Talinda team as the first female Senior Project engineer, in her interview she tells us about herself and why she chose to pursue a career in engineering, her experiences and aspirations and what she intends to bring to the the table.

My

role

is project management, I am tasked with tailoring solutions to the clients needs. This involves running product demo’s and answering any technical questions that the client might have.

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TA L I N DA E A S T A F R I C A WHAT IS YOUR EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND? I have a diploma in Telecommunication Engineering as well as a certification in CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Association). I also want to start my degree in network engineering soon.

WHAT DROVE YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN NETWORK ENGINEERING? As a young child I remember going for an educational trip to the airport, and seeing two ladies dressed in white dust coats walking towards the plane’s engine. The ladies disappeared into the plane’s engine, I was intrigued by it, and I had never seen anything like it. As I grew up I wanted to be like the two ladies.

That image stuck with me throughout my childhood, and I knew I wanted to be an engineer.

Initially I wanted to pursue a career in aeronautical engineering, though I later came to find out that the field doesn’t offer vast opportunities. So I decided to pursue a career in aeronautics communication engineering, which offered more employment opportunities in a number of industries.

WHAT DOES YOUR CURRENT ROLE AT TALINDA INVOLVE? My role is project management, I am tasked with tailoring solutions to the client’s needs. This involves running product demos and answering any technical questions that the client might have.

Once the client has confirmed purchase, I run with the project to completion and hand it over to the client. I also ensure that we

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provide support and assistance to the client when needed.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MANAGE THE TASK AHEAD? Network engineering is my passion, so I would say that I am up to the task. I read a lot so I am always up to date with the latest industry trends. I do plan to work closely with the team to achieve great results.

Keeping my certifications current and relevant to the products we sell is also key. This will enable me to manage the technical challenges that may come up.

ENGINEERING BEING A MALE DOMINATED FIELD WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES YOU COME ACROSS? I don’t think it’s challenging for me. I am the only girl in a family of boys, so I have learnt how to handle the opposite sex.

I pursued telecommunication engineering mainly due to that fact that not so many women pursue it, and I needed a challenge. Working with men isn’t a challenge, I take it as a learning opportunity, and there is a lot you can learn from them.

There are a few challenges I come across here and there working alongside men. At times they think that they are better than you. When you prove that you are just as talented as they are, they give you the respect you deserve. It also makes you smarter as you have work hard to be on the same level.

I would say it is not a challenge for me rather, it motivates me to work harder.

SO WHO IS KEZIAH NJUNGUNA? I am one cool lady, I love to read books. In my line of work it’s imperative that one reads to keep up with the changing technology.

Though I do enjoy reading novels in my free time. I also enjoy personal time with my friends and family. I do love swimming it’s a great way to relax.

FUTURE ASPIRATIONS? I’m looking forward to starting my degree and becoming a licensed engineer. Taking on a greater role and growing within the organization in the next five years.

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The Education sector has grown exponentially in the past few years and we have seen a paradigm shift in how learning is taking place in the classroom Ta l i n d a N e w s l e t t e r | J u l y 2 0 1 5

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EDUCATION MOVING TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION The Education sector has grown exponentially in the past few years and we have seen a paradigm shift in how learning is taking place in the classroom, higher education institutions have adopted long distance learning, with most of the learning activities taking place online in most institutions. Gone are the days when students would wait for lecturers to hand them down notes during class or hand in written assignments. Books, notes, assignments and class schedules are being made accessible to students through various online portals.

Learning has taken a more interactive approach with institutions moving towards giving the best in education, lessons have now become more interactive. Talinda East Africa offers a number of solutions to cater for this ever growing market. We offer solutions that deliver seamless Wifi connectivity within the campus and E-learning for distance learning these solutions include: Point-to-Point Video Calls Sessions between two users. They can see and hear each other, exchange messages and files, collaborate on documents, use whiteboard, and at the same time stay in different places in comfortable environment.

Multipoint Video Conferences Allow to connect up to 16 participants in continious presense mode so that all users can see and hear each other. Each participant can choose a convenient

video windows layout individually in real time.

Video Lectures Designed for distant learning. Allow to connect up to 16 students in such a way that all of them can see and hear only the lecturer. Lecturer in it’s turn, can see and hear all the students simultaneously.

Virtual Meetings Role-based video conferences for up to 250 participants with up to 4 active speakers selected by moderator in real-time. Other users can make requests for broadcasting, use the Push to Talk feature, send messages and use collaboration tools.

Client Applications Endpoints

and

For Desktops and Laptops Software client applications that turn regular desktops and laptops into FullHD capable video conferencing endpoints with collaboration tools.

For Mobile Devices -Turn iOS and Android smartphones and tablets into personal video conferencing endpoints capable of HD video communication over 3G/4G and Wi-Fi networks.

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Baraka Center, Suite 4, Opposite EKA HOTEL, Mombasa Road P. O. Box 6560, Nairobi, Kenya Mobile:+254 20 8077704 info@talinda.net www.talinda.net

Baraka Center, Suite 4, Opposite EKA HOTEL, Mombasa R oad