Comms Dealer

Nimans has been named Distributor of the Year by structured cabling manufacturer HellermannTyton.

Data Infrastructure Sales Manager for Nimans, Adrian Barker, said product knowledge, training incentives, price and project support along with high stock holding all play a key role in attracting more installers to the brand.

Cat6 warranted systems and Cat5e cabling are some of the most popular products, as Barker highlighted: "HellermannTyton enjoy a reputation as a competitive premium brand backed by a 25 year warranty available through its accredited installers (when trained by the manufacturer)."

Karen Miller, UK Channel Manager for HellermannTyton, commented: "Nimans have shown exceptional month-on-month sales growth in 2015. We want to recognise this performance by presenting this award."

A new report on the outlook for the UK telecommunications sector produced by IHS has highlighted the key role of new players in driving broadband connections, accounting for a 70% rise in high speed broadband connections over the next five years, from almost nine million at the end of 2015 to more than 15.5 million by the end of 2020.

The report also identified CityFibre as a 'notable' alternative to BT Openreach.

"While BT is working on expanding superfast services using VDSL (FTTC) and G.Fast, alternative operators have entered the market using FTTP to increase their coverage," said Fiona Vanier, senior analyst at IHS Technology.

Infrastructure supplier CityFibre was founded in January 2011 and operates a 1,500km local (city network), 1,500km long distance network, and has 36 major metro footprints and network in over 80 towns and cities.

CityFibre is targeting a total of 50 major metro networks by 2020, addressing 20% of the UK market.

"This means that ISPs looking to move into certain towns or cities may have the option of choosing CityFibre as a wholesaler instead of BT," Vanier added.

"Key players in the UK broadband market, such as Sky and TalkTalk, already recognise CityFibre as a viable alternative to BT Openreach, and a number of significant agreements have been signed with CityFibre over the last 12 to 18 months."

Another company pushing the boost in connections is Gigaclear. "Gigaclear has found its niche in the market," Vanier said. "With take-up rates as high as 40%, it is clear that this company is expanding quickly in key areas in the UK."

Dell has added analytical data management platform Zizo to its Service Provider Partner programme.

As part of the new agreement, Zizo's analytical data management solution will be proposed to customers alongside data centre hardware and support provided by Dell.

The company delivers an end-to-end Analytics-as-a-Service platform, through its own patented technology, with customers including the BBC, Marks and Spencer and the Royal Mail in the UK.

Peter Ruffley, Chairman at Zizo, stated: "We chose Dell as a partner in order to provide consultancy and high performance data centre hardware. It has helped us to architect our service, and ensure that we have the tools to deliver."

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.