Cisco, a now 25-year-old telecommunications company, has announced that its Tunis office is the first business premises in Tunisia to be equipped with Cisco TelePresence technology.

Cisco TelePresence allows for real-time interaction, providing healthcare professionals with easy means of collaboration and patients with access to telemedicine and resources, such as specialists in specific medical fields, that they normally would lack. The technology also provides channels for education, allowing worldwide access to colleges, institutions, and tutors.

“In today's climate, when companies are looking at better ways to conduct business efficiently whilst also keeping a firm control on travel costs, Cisco TelePresence technology offers the perfect solution,” said Adel Dahman, the general manager for Cisco Tunisia. “Cisco employees in Tunis are already enjoying the benefits and cost savings that a Cisco TelePresence solution offers, and we aim to also utilize this installation in our Tunis offices as a pilot to allow our business partners and customers across the region the opportunity to experience the power of Cisco TelePresence technology. We are confident that in the very near future many more organizations in Tunisia and across North Africa will be deploying the Cisco TelePresence solution.”

Cisco TelePresence creates the illusion of participants sitting across a table from each other in a conference room, no matter how distant the participating members are. The Tunis office is now equipped with Cisco TelePresence System 1300, which allows up to six people to interact in this manner on almost any conference table. The system eliminates the need for long-distance travel for communication purposes, and is projected to save costs, boost productivity, and allow for a more environmentally sustainable company environment by doing so.

Anthony Vonsee, the managing director for Cisco North Africa Levant, noted that the deployment of Cisco TelePresence can now increase due to the presence of submarine cables which provide affordable high bandwidth.

“This Cisco TelePresence solution will not only transform the way business is conducted in North Africa, but also help make vital services like health care and education more accessible to those who need them most," Vonsee said.