Expand Networks, a provider of WAN optimization technologies for branch office consolidation and virtualization, announced its advanced WAN Optimization technology is being used at Christian Aid, one of the UK’s largest charity organizations.

The Expand Accelerators have enhanced connectivity and communications across the global network of Christian Aid. They have successfully increased network performance, application delivery and connectivity between remote branch offices, supporting the charity in providing urgent, practical and effective assistance to some of the world’s poorest countries, the company said.

According to Alastair Salmon, technical projects manager for International Operations at Christian Aid, connectivity is the single most taxing IT issue in almost all their country offices.

The charity was looking for a solution that helps them make best use of the available bandwidth to ensure that their team is able to complete their aid work more efficiently, while simultaneously making maximum use of our existing network investments.

“Since implementing the Expand technology we have experienced substantial productivity gains, making us better equipped to effectively meet the needs and objectives of the charity as a whole, and on an individual project basis,” Salmon said.

“Our WAN optimization technology is providing Christian Aid with the best possible network performance results, delivering applications across a global network of branch offices while delivering rapid RoI,” Adam Davison (News - Alert), vice president of sales and marketing at Expand, said.

“Delivery of data and applications is critical to the fundamental objectives of the charity’s work and by bridging the WAN proximity gap for its users means that they can do their jobs more efficiently and effectively,” Davison added.

Christian Aid had realized the potential of WAN optimization technology and its benefits for a while and sought to find the most comprehensive solution that would meet their connectivity needs, as well as their economic objectives as a charity.

By implementing Expand Networks’ (News - Alert) solution, the charity was able to tackle its connectivity problems head-on, according to company officials. The Christian Aid chose Expand considering its strong reputation within the charitable sector.

Having rolled out Expand Accelerators across branch office locations in South America, Africa and Asia, Christian Aid is witnessing in the order of 40 percent traffic compression inbound and outbound to these sites, according to Christian Aid officials.

The Expand technology is now providing Christian Aid’s global branches with greatly optimized connectivity. Layer 7 QoS features of the technology has given them the visibility to assess exactly what traffic is passing through their links and then control it, which is invaluable from a network management perspective.

All these improvements have enabled the charity to displace a local domain controller in Delhi, simplifying local IT infrastructure and reducing costs.

The organization is planning to explore the Mobile Accelerator further in order to improve the experience for their individual users, whilst providing the same level of office functionality, wherever they are, and at a lower cost.

Recently Expand Networks announced it has joined the HP AllianceONE partner program, gaining network specialization partner status, TMCnet reported. By joining the program, the company is provided with the tools and resources they need to more effectively address client needs.