Comms Dealer

Analytics professional services adoption accelerated in the second half of last year with at least 70% of analytics software purchasers surveyed using such services, according to researcher TBR.

"Enterprises understand analytics have become essential to compete in today's data intensive economy," said TBR Professional Services Senior Analyst Jennifer Hamel.

"Regulatory compliance, risk management and data security will be the primary concerns impacting analytics purchase decisions over the next two to five years," said Hamel. "Enterprises will increasingly rely on services vendors for strategic and tactical advice in deploying analytics to solve broad business and IT challenges."

Consulting continues to be the primary entry point to analytics professional services engagements.

However, growing demand for design-build-run services highlights the rapidly maturing market and interest in end-to-end analytics management.

Bundled services and technology solutions remain the default purchase option, enabling IBM, SAP, Microsoft and Oracle to lead the market, while the consulting and system integration vendor landscape remains fragmented.

SSE Enterprise Telecoms has given aql's data centre customers access to a range of connected dark fibre routes and optical networking connectivity solutions linking the world to its Leeds metropolitan data centres.

Founded and headquartered in Central Leeds, aql is a wholesale communications operator with international reach.

"SSE Enterprise Telecoms shares our plans to ensure Leeds is recognised as one of the key digital hubs in the UK," said Dr Adam Beaumont, founder and CEO of aql.

"The city has a world class digital industry including a thriving community of big data innovators, driving demand for a hyper-connected city. Organisations such as SSE Enterprise Telecoms providing dark fibre solutions ensure that the Northern Powerhouse can support the terabit demands of data research and innovation."

Colin Sempill, MD of SSE Enterprise Telecoms, added: "With a new multi-terabit capable dark fibre link underpinning its operations, aql can ensure its wholesale partners are connected with low latency and jitter free connectivity - paramount for services such as IP voice.

"Meanwhile, with a range of our networking solutions now available at the data centre, ISPs and enterprises can easily connect into the carrier-neutral aql data centre, which will help lay the foundations for a vibrant digital economy in the City."

Ann Potterton is to reprise her role as Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) CEO following a two year break from the post, returning in June 2016.

She takes over from Adam Oliver and will continue to build on the ITP's core strengths in promoting the professional and career development of members, as well assisting the industry by offering apprenticeship consultancy and its apprenticeship scheme.

"I would like to thank Adam for his hard work and commitment to our members," stated ITP Chairman Lucy Woods.

"Ann will also ensure that the ITP is a strong advocate for the industry at all levels of private and public enterprises."

Satellite Internet has reported growing demand for satellite connectivity via the BDUK broadband project.

As part of the satellite-specific scheme's supplementary element, Satellite Internet is offering an entry level proposal which includes 10GB of monthly data and speeds of up to 20Mbps direct to end users.

Satellite Internet MD Mike Locke said: "Despite the nationwide demand for fast connectivity, many properties in the UK still don't have the most basic broadband speeds, rendering users unable to make full use of the internet.

"BDUK's Basic Broadband For All scheme recognises the importance of satellite Internet connectivity in providing an acceptable level of broadband speed to the "final five percent" - those premises that cannot realistically be served by traditional terrestrial-based broadband delivery technologies."

Satellite Internet partners with SES Techcom Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of satellite operator SES, to deliver high speed satellite broadband services across the UK and Ireland.

Updata Infrastructure, part of Capita IT Enterprise Services, has signed a national framework agreement with CityFibre enabling it to offer public and private sector services over CityFibre's national network.

With 36 network footprints across the country, and a financed plan to reach a total of 50 cities by 2020, CityFibre's national reach provides Updata with an alternative to incumbent networks.

CityFibre's pure fibre networks will be used as a platform for Updata's growing ranks of public sector and enterprise customers as well as providing the company with an option to migrate existing customers where commercially preferable or technically essential.

CityFibre's Commercial Director Rob Hamlin said: "A framework agreement with Updata cements CityFibre's position as a key supplier to the sector.

"As an emerging national alternative to Openreach, our networks provide Updata with a platform over which it can continue to innovate and grow."

Bruce Strang, MD, Updata, added: "Our clients' demands are constantly growing and it is important that we can meet them by leveraging a pure fibre network infrastructure."

Ecommerce solutions specialist Volo Commerce has deployed a cloud-based UC platform from VIA across its two offices in Cheltenham and London.

The company chose VIA Voice to consolidate its previously disparate communications channels into one centralised platform.
 
Volo was not satisfied with the limited functionality of its existing PBX solution, while employees were also using the consumer version of Skype for internal messages and a third party conferencing solution for online meetings.

The company was looking to streamline communications by adopting a UC platform that incorporated each of these elements. This would help Volo to increase operational efficiency while also cutting down administration and management time.
 
VIA Voice operates over the Internet and replaces the need to have a traditional phone network. The solution - which incorporates Skype for Business - allows employees to talk, instant message, email, video chat or partake in conferences across a variety of devices, such as landlines, smartphones, PCs, and tablets.

This helps the Volo team to stay continuously connected and contactable even when they are on the road or working from home.
 
Alex Tebbs, Director at VIA, said: "VIA Voice incorporates features that have been developed by our in-house specialists. This includes our real-time management portal which allows Volo to evaluate usage trends and employee efficiency while also monitoring costs."

NEC Enterprise Solutions has appointed Bert Plasman as Vice President & Head of Enterprise Channel Sales EMEA.

Reporting to Paul Kievit, President & Head of NEC Enterprise Solutions EMEA, Plasman will be responsible for accelerating NEC's Enterprise channel sales strategy and business growth throughout the EMEA region.

Kievit said: "Bert brings a wealth of experience in the ICT industry and will add significant value, drive and direction to our Enterprise channel sales teams and business partners.

"This new assignment is closely linked to our plan for further growth in EMEA. Bert will support and give direction to our EMEA Enterprise Channel Sales teams in promoting and expanding sales of our Enterprise Business through existing and new channel partners."

Plasman has held various leadership positions in IT and networking at Getronics, Cisco and LeaseWe, as well as experience working in distribution, VARs and telcos.

Plasman is based at the NEC Enterprise Solutions EMEA headquarters in Hilversum, the Netherlands.

Tollring has enhanced its iCall Suite cloud call analytics and recording solution to include fraud detection alarming.

The iCS Fraud module has been introduced to combat call fraud, enforce company policy and meet customer service levels by detecting variance in call activity as soon as it happens.

The iCall Suite now enables service providers, resellers and their customers to proactively monitor inbound and outbound call trends using effective call-limit profiling that is easy to configure, quick to set up and self-learning for ongoing protection.

Rules-based alerts can be activated to monitor and inform both resellers and customers of irregular call behaviour, allowing Service Providers to proactively manage their channel.

Integrated within iCall Suite, fraud alerts, reports and visual dashboards can be accessed via a web browser on any mobile device.

Service providers can help their resellers and customers to minimise fraud by offering real-time monitoring and setting limits on call profiles. As soon as a number reaches its call limit within a specific time period, calls can be barred or notifications activated.

The live notification alerts can be delivered to a mobile via text, call, email or on a 'live tile' dashboard. Detailed call type, usage, black-list and trend reports deliver business-critical information to both resellers and customers for ongoing monitoring.

Tollring MD Tony Martino stated: "Fraud detection is a rising challenge in cloud telephony and our new iCall Suite fraud module addresses this real industry issue.

"Now, our partners and customers can mitigate fraud and enforce company policy to reduce liability through immediate notifications of variance in call activity.

"This latest update in our cloud call analytics solution will positively impact the way the channel manages customers and their usage behaviour."

Cisilion has re-achieved the Cisco Gold Certification, confirming its status as one of the networking giant's top UK partners.

"Cisco is one of our key partners, and the re-certification of our Gold Partner status reinforces our role as a trusted technology advisor", said Alex Hooper, Chief Technology Officer at Cisilion.

"This recognition acknowledges the fact that Cisilion has the technology breadth to deliver the reliable, secure and highly specialised solutions that our customers demand in today's converging marketplace."

Angela Whitty, Managing Director, UKI partner Organisation at Cisco said: "This accreditation is not easy to achieve and is only granted to channel partners with the extensive level of skills, knowledge and expertise across a wide range of Cisco technologies."

Extreme Networks has appointed Gordon Mackintosh as Senior Director of Worldwide Partner Programme and Sales Business Development.

His remit is to run the development of the Extreme Partner Network (EPN) as well as new sales and partner initiatives.

Mackintosh reports directly to Bob Gault, Executive VP of Worldwide Sales, Services and Channels at Extreme.

Prior to his appointment Macintosh held various leadership roles in sales and channel at Cisco where he was responsible for go-to-market strategies and was the head of Distribution and SMB in the UK.

"It's perfect timing for Gordon to join our team following the recent enhancements to the Extreme Partner Network and our solutions-based go-to-market strategy late last year," stated Gault.