19 - 25 July 2001

Enemalta, Microsoft sign enterprise agreement

by David Kelleher

Enemalta, Malta’s government-owned and operated electricity authority, together with technology partners Computer Solutions Limited and Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean (MED) has signed an enterprise agreement that standardises all Enemalta’s IT requirements completely on a single and unified Microsoft platform.
The move is a part of Enemalta’s overall business strategy to identify and harness the right technology framework in order to expand its operations, develop e-business services and initiate new projects for its Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
The Enterprise Agreement is a flexible volume licensing agreement that enables Enemalta to significantly reduce IT costs through mass purchases while providing technical support services and accommodating software requirements related to further business expansion. This partnership is the first enterprise-scale agreement of this kind in the country, providing Enemalta with a single technology backbone on which to run all its operations, together with product support and upgrade services.
“Enemalta is pleased to have signed an Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft Corporation, said Prof. Robert Ghirlando, chairman, Enemalta Corporation. “Through this agreement, Enemalta has purchased various Microsoft Windows 2000 based systems and we look forward to improving internal computer network. Through this investment, we have seen a 30-40% cost effectiveness and believe that we are in a better position to provide more enhanced services to our customers.”
As part of the agreement, Enemalta has standardised on Office 2000 office productivity suite for over 500 PCs, Microsoft Exchange 2000 for messaging requirements, Microsoft Systems Management Server for deploying and managing software across the company and Microsoft SQL Server 2000 as the basis for the development of new projects for its Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Plans are underway to deploy a collaborative solution with Office 2000 and Exchange 2000, for better business efficiencies, and employees’ productivity.
“Enemalta is one of the largest and most vital companies in the country and consequently have very sophisticated technology requirements,” said Khalil Abdul Massih, Account Manager, for Microsoft Eastern Mediterranean.
“Microsoft’s end-to-end solution for large enterprises of this kind allows for central management of a variety of specialised solutions all of which operate on a single platform. The agreement effectively reduces the total cost of ownership, lowers administrative downtime and increases user-productivity. Moreover, a unified Windows 2000 technology environment makes Enemalta one among international companies worldwide that are ready to adopt Microsoft’s .Net strategy that will offer an enhanced, internet-based user experience.”