IP networking integrator, NetStar, has won a $5 million deal with the University of Melbourne to complete the first phase of a major campus-wide network upgrade.

Marketing director, Oliver Descoeudres, said the tender called for a platform delivering voice and video services to staff and students. He estimated the overall project was worth about $25 million. NetStar is rolling out Cisco technology.

"It is a part the university's longer term goal to provide a totally new network catering for more flexible communications and services," he said. "At this stage, the upgrade of its core network includes 76 high-end catalyst switches, maintenance, implementation and support. The overall refresh will be over a number of years but this initial deal will be a 3-4 month project."

Descoeudres could not disclose who else they were up against for the deal but said it was a very competitive process.

"We have been pretty active in the education space in the last five plus years and having this success with the University of Melbourne expands our education portfolio and entrenches our position in this space," he said.

In other news, NetStar has recruited four new staff to ramp up new sales. It has hired two business development managers, Nero Aroyan and John Collias, as well as network consultant, John Leong, and senior voice/data architect, Henry Ho.

"The new business roles are really focused on working with marketing to develop new relationships and build business in new accounts," Descoeudres said. "We are very much focused on the commercial 300-1000 seat space for growth."

NetStar has about 400 active customers on its books, including Energy Australia, Swinburne University, Tyco and Wesfarmers. Descoeudres highlighted security, IP communications and network management as key growth areas.