>A statement by the Registrar

As from 1st August 2005, Oxford University Telecommunications Section (OUTS), which is currently part of The Estates Directorate, will become part of Oxford University Computing Service (OUCS). This will ultimately permit the development of a single Networks Team, which will be responsible for maintaining and developing all the voice, data and security networks used to link the 300 or so buildings of the collegiate university.

The objectives of this change of management structure are:

• To simplify and make more effective the management of the existing infrastructure of telecomms rooms, ducts, cables etc, which are shared by the university's voice, data and security networks, and
• To permit the gradual convergence of the networks, to take advantage of the anticipated evolution of IP (internet protocol) as the unifying technology for all types of telecommunications, including data, voice, CCTV, security etc.
• There will be no immediate change to the services provided by OUTS and OUCS, or the contact points within the two groups, except that a new Head of Telecommunications will be recruited, to manage the combined teams, under the overall management of the existing OUCS Networks Manager, Roger Treweek. He or she will replace Ian Everett, the current Telecommunications Manager, who will retire from the University after 19 years service in that role. OUTS staff will continue to be located in the Malthouse.
• Once the new grouping is consolidated, it is expected that the telephone and data network help desks will be combined, as will their accounting services, to give departments and colleges a simpler, more effective and more economic means of ordering additions or changes to telephone and data services.

Further announcements will be made before these developments occur.