Bradford-based housing group, Incommunities, is using a next generation network from ntl:Telewest Business, part of the Virgin Media group, to underpin its operations and deliver mobile working for staff. Incommunities is linking its eight key offices plus smaller sites across the network, providing IP telephony for 750 staff and business continuity for the entire organisation. The 250 tradespeople responsible for supporting its properties are using mobile Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices to access central information systems, which enables them to receive job details seamlessly and efficiently while on the move.
Incommunities manages around 22,300 affordable high quality homes mainly for rent and is the biggest social landlord in the Bradford district. The properties were previously owned by Bradford Council until a stock transfer in February 2003 to the newly formed Bradford Community Housing Trust Group (BCHT). In 2003 BCHT was renamed Incommunities to show the organisation’s commitment to bring local services closer to their customers.
Incommunities’ previous network was designed with a central hub office connecting to district offices, meaning that any problems at the hub would cut IP telephony and data connections to the whole organisation. This could have prevented the organisation from processing rents, scheduling and logging repairs or receiving/making telephone calls. The new Metro Ethernet Virtual Private Network (VPN) connects all sites to each other, enabling core business systems to be situated on two sites. This guarantees the highest levels of business continuity.
Following a competitive tendering process Incommunities selected ntl:Telewest Business due to the sophistication of its fibre optic next generation network, the flexibility of its services and integrated approach. As part of the contract, ntl:Telewest Business manages the network and Incommunities can increase bandwidth as required, ensuring service is always optimal across the organisation.
“Our new network underpins everything we do, from rent collection to housing repairs” said Jason Baines, ICT Infrastructure Manager for Incommunities. “It is vital that our network operates efficiently and without downtime to support the entire organisation. ntl:Telewest Business now ensures business continuity across all our sites, meaning we can be confident in our ability to provide the highest levels of service to our customers.”
The new network enables Incommunities to deploy server virtualisation technologies splitting IT across multiple servers to further increase operational flexibility. This includes a new Storage Area Network (SAN), which is replicated between sites to enable faster, more efficient access to information across the organisation.
“Housing associations must deliver the highest standards of service to tenants, meaning that information downtime is simply not an option,” said Dave Alderson, public sector specialist at ntl:Telewest Business. “Our resilient, high-speed network is underpinning Incommunities' business operations but also delivering innovation in the way that information is accessed by a large mobile workforce.”
About ntl:Telewest Business
ntl:Telewest Business has the most technically advanced of the UK’s two national networks. Its vast nationwide Next Generation Network provides businesses, public sector organisations and service providers across the UK with a complete portfolio of advanced data, internet and voice services. The £13billion network is flexible, scaleable and is already built out to more than 38,000 street cabinets across the UK.
As part of a commitment to deliver superior customer service, ntl:Telewest Business sales and support teams are located in close proximity to its customers in over 40 centres across the UK. ntl:Telewest Business is trusted to provide critical communications to high profile customers including: Birmingham City Council, Yorkshire Water and EasyJet.
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