Comms Dealer

Cloud and network provider Exponential-e has launched an off-the-shelf 10 Gigabit Ethernet service (GigE) that promises to deliver some of the highest network speeds in the world to most businesses across the country, over 400 times faster than the Government's minimum definition of superfast broadband (24Mbps).

The 10 GigE solution will enable businesses to get the most from SaaS, cloud services and Internet-based applications.

Using the 10 GigE connection businesses can increase or decrease their bandwidth capacity when they need it.

Furthermore, they can split the networks' circuit, using secure Virtual LANs (VLANs) to deliver other services and applications, with any combination of bandwidth. An example of this could be dedicating an entire Gigabit to a 4K video conferencing system.

Lee Wade, CEO at Exponential-e, stated: "The fact that many companies in the UK still struggle for a decent network connection is scandalous. High-capacity bandwidth is critical in delivering vital, Internet-connected services that play an important role in carrying out everyday business.

"Data consumption by UK businesses continues to grow year-on-year and IP traffic is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 22 per cent, every year to 2020. This 10 GigE offering has the capacity to enable thousands of companies to adopt and run a full suite of modern solutions, as and when they need them."

Inclarity Communications has signalled the next phase of its partner strategy with the appointment of Fridolin Engel (pictured) as Channel Manager.

Engel joins from Chess where he was National Sales Manager for Partner Services responsible for the wholesale and dealer channels. Prior to this he was Head of Sales (Partner Channel) at Exertis UK. Previous roles include stints at Telefonica and Virgin Media.

Inclarity Director Enzo Viscito said: "Inclarity is at an exciting stage in its development and Fridolin brings a strong track record of 20 years sales performance as well as significant knowledge of the telecoms channel business.\"

Madison Dearborn Partners (MDP) has completed its acquisition of cloud firm Intermedia.

"Our partnership with MDP gives us added flexibility and resources," said Michael Gold, CEO of Intermedia. "With a shared vision of the future, we plan to accelerate growth through increased investments in our cloud management platform, channel solutions, communities and programmes, our J.D. Power-certified support experience, new and existing products, targeted industry solutions, and potential additional acquisitions."

Zaid Alsikafi, a Managing Director at MDP and Intermedia's new Chairman, said: "Intermedia has been able to successfully capitalise upon the global shift to the cloud and possesses tremendous potential to capture further market opportunities."

Michael Gold remains Chief Executive Officer of Intermedia, and the company's headquarters continues to be in Mountain View, California. Phil Koen, Intermedia CEO until early 2015 and most recently the company's Executive Chairman, will continue in an advisory role to the CEO.

As part of the transaction, Intermedia's shareholders, led by Oak Hill, have sold their stake in the company to MDP and company management. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Tech Data Europe is creating a complete Microsoft cloud ecosystem that will enable partners to deliver the Microsoft's entire software stack, along with complementary solutions, through a single, integrated management platform.

All of Microsoft's cloud-based solutions, including Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS), are available through the Tech Data Cloud Solution Store, powered by the company's StreamOne platform, as part of the Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider (CSP) program.

This means resellers, VARs and MSPs can offer the full range of Microsoft solutions alongside complementary offerings through a single portal, and also make use of the monitoring and billing capabilities of Tech Data's platform to manage their customer accounts.

"Microsoft solutions are widely used in most end user organisations and many customers now want to use those applications in the cloud, so it's important that resellers can support the entire stack," said Reza Honarmand, vice president, Cloud, Europe at Tech Data.

"In addition, customers need efficient ways to manage and integrate applications and ensure their data is properly backed-up, safe and secure. Through our Cloud Solution Store, Tech Data is providing not only the complete Microsoft suite under the CSP program, but also a whole range of complementary solutions and services that will enable VARs and MSPs to add value to the services they offer and enhance their long-term business prospects."

Unify Business Solutions has scooped a £1.7m deal to eradicate mobile phones from Danish prisons.

Working with Kriminalforsorgen, the organisation responsible for all the prisons in Denmark, Unify Business Solutions will help to reduce criminal activity and increase safety to the public, the prison and its staff.

Unify was chosen ahead of five other international telecoms specialists and will supply its mobile detection system - UMDS (Unify Mobile Detection/Denial System) - which detects mobile phones, provides live alerts for prison staff and then blocks the phones so that inmates do not have unlawful access.

"We are ecstatic to be working on this project and to extend our portfolio of international contracts into Denmark," said Adam Esposito, co-director of Unify Business Solutions.

"This will create more jobs for the area and is a great opportunity for us to showcase our detection products that we have developed in Sheffield."

The use of illicit mobile phones in prisons around the world has become an increasing problem. In Denmark alone an average of 1,900 mobiles are confiscated a year, and there is no limit to how creative the inmates' friends are in their attempts to smuggle them in.

Phones are sometimes stored inside balls which are thrown into the prison grounds and picked up during recreation time, as well as being stored in grocery deliveries, books, clothing and shoes.

Unify Sales Manager, Keith Bean, commented: "Kriminalforsorgen recognises how this piece of technology can help it run an efficient prison service, increase security and reduce criminal activity where mobile phones are used to bring in illegal contraband."

Bamboo Technology Group has gained two key ISO certifications - ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013. It has also retained its Investors in People certification for the 12th year in a row.

The certifications form part of the company's transformation and growth strategy which included a review and streamlining of all internal and customer-facing processes, the launch of new service offerings such as Wholesale M2M data, investment in new and enhanced tools (including data monitoring and auto-barring), and establishing new supplier relationships such as the Service Provider agreement with Vodafone UK.

"We are proud to add these two major ISO certifications to our business accreditations," said Lorrin White, MD, Bamboo.

"We have spent the last 18-24 months further investing in our people, processes and systems as part of our ambitious transformation and growth strategy.

"Bamboo's staff have worked hard to drive the business forward to achieve our ISO status, so it is only fitting that this coincided with the renewal of our Investors in People accreditation for the 12th year in a row."

The appointment of Kevin Matthews (pictured) by Exertis to the newly created role of Enterprise Sales Director signifies the distributor's growing interest and investment in bigger business. He reports to Sales and Commercial Director UK&I Phil Brown.

Matthews moves from Fujitsu where he was UK Sales Director for the Technology Products Group responsible for implementing a new sales strategy and consolidating the number of distribution partners.

Before joining Fujitsu Matthews spent 16 years at Hewlett-Packard, ultimately leading its enterprise channel business and accelerating the sale of HP enterprise products via successful initiatives and strong customer engagement.

"Kevin has extensive sales experience in the channel particularly in the enterprise sector and has built strong business relationships with major accounts," said Brown.

Matthews added: "My responsibilities include driving engagement with key value added resellers, ensuring that sales opportunities are maximised with the Exertis' growing enterprise portfolio."

Openreach has appointed Sir Brendan Barber and Edward Astle as independent members of a newly formed Board to oversee strategy, investment and service delivery.

Barber was formerly General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress and current chair of Acas, while Astle is a former Board member of National Grid.

The newcomers attended the inaugural meeting of the Openreach Board on 31st January 2017, chaired by Mike McTighe who was appointed independent Chairman of Openreach in December 2016.

A fourth independent non-executive is due to be announced with a specific focus on customer service.

McTighe said: "I understand that customers sometimes feel let down by Openreach because we haven't always delivered the service they expect or that we hope to provide.

"We have made a lot of progress since Clive Selley joined as CEO a year ago - for example on halving the number of missed appointments, making our fibre network available to millions more people and accelerating our plan to introduce a new generation of ultrafast technology.

"But we need to do more to re-build trust and credibility. This will be the Board's focus."

Clive Selley, Openreach Chief Executive; Clare Sadlier, Openreach Chief Finance Officer; and Simon Lowth, BT Group Finance Director will also join the Openreach Board.

Openreach will also establish committees to help boost operational standards. In particular, a new Openreach Board Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee (OBARCC) will hold the business to account and regularly hear representations from customers, as well as conducting an annual review of Openreach compliance and publish its findings.

Spitfire formally welcomed new supplier partner Virgin Media Business at its annual channel partner conference staged in Westminster.

Other talking points on the day included developments in FTTC Ethernet and FTTP Broadband, SIP trunks, on-net connectivity to AWS and Microsoft and telephony compliance regulations.
 
Spitfire used the occasion to demonstrate a new web ordering system allowing authorised partners to place orders online quickly and simply.

Breakout sessions following the main presentations gave partners the opportunity to see demonstrations of Spitfire's SIP Communicator hosted telephony service and the 3CX v15 telephony platform. Staff were also on hand to discuss MPLS networks and Virgin Media Business services.

Nick Goodenough, Partner Service Manager, commented: "We were pleased to welcome a very large section of our 400 channel partners to our annual conference.

"The event allowed us to brief partners on the important developments we have planned for our voice and data services in 2017. We were also able to introduce colleagues from Virgin Media Business who outlined the benefits of Virgin's national fibre network. The event always provides partners with an excellent opportunity to network with their peers."

A competition launched by BT invites new ideas from SMEs aimed at better securing the UK's infrastructure, public sector and business data.

'BT SME Award 2017: Securing the Nation' will give SMEs the chance to showcase their new technology and product ideas within three award categories: Cyber Security; Data collection, mining and analytics; and Digital Innovation.

The winning entrants are expected to demonstrate how their new ideas will address key challenges in securing data for businesses and public sector organisations.

Shortlisted finalists will be invited to the BT Tower in London on the 4th of April to pitch their ideas to a Dragons' Den style judging panel of experts spanning security, innovation, defence and other public services.

Among the panel will be CEO of BT Security, Mark Hughes; BT's MD of Research & Innovation, Tim Whitley; Met Police Detective Superintendent, Caroline Barker; and Technical Director of the National Cyber Security Centre, Ian Levy.

There is a total prize pot of £30,000 across all three categories.

Ben Gummer, Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, said: "Small and medium-sized businesses make a huge contribution to our economy and account for over 99% of all private sector businesses. Entrepreneurs, risk-takers, family businesses and start-ups have created more than 2.7 million jobs and launched almost a million new businesses since 2010.

"But there is more we can do - which is why the Government is committed to spending £1 in every £3 with small businesses by 2020. By doing so, we will harness the knowledge, skills and experience of our SMEs and use them to improve our public services."