ICL gears up to handle date change problems

ICL has announced the steps it plans to put into place for the millennium 'prime risk' period of 27 December to 7 January.

In addition to focusing on its contractual obligations, the company will give top priority to the health and emergency services, as well as the telecoms and utilities infrastructure upon which they rely.

ICL's year-end strategy includes:

• a 24-hour a day continuity planning centre to be fully staffed up and operational
  
  
• 300 client-directors and client-managers to be on 24-hour call
  
  
• 2000 additional staff to be available globally over the holidays.

Says Alan Rowley, ICL's Y2K worldwide director: "We will have a number of early warning and alert systems in place so that we can best assess any situation that may arise." For one thing, they will be watching what happens in Australia, where the New Year arrives nine hours earlier.

ICL began preparing for Y2K in 1995. Useful advice, as well as guidelines for contingency planning, is available on its website: www.icl.com

Elliott Chase