Claranet launches integrated 3G service for today’s mobile office
Private network connectivity solution for companies adjusting to BYOD revolution
Large reduction in costs for small and mid-sized enterprises
Claranet has launched a new 3G service integrating mobile working and back-up connectivity, which links directly to its private network. The new service avoids the need for its customers and their end-users in turn, to use the public internet for any flow of data.
Using either a SIM card for mobile users or a 3G router to provide extra connectivity for office locations, the service provides a new level of flexibility and simplicity to connect with Claranet’s private network.
While most mobile carriers price their private 3G offerings to discourage small and mid-market businesses through excessive set-up charges, Claranet doesn’t charge to enable it’s private network, so customers can start small and grow as they need. This drastically reduces the cost of entry for companies wanting to create secure remote working access for their employees. It also allows for greater flexibility to meet changing demand as the trend for bring your own device (BYOD) develops.
The service will keep data within an organisation’s firewall, removing costly and bureaucratic authentication processes from IT departments and the need for virtual private networks to encrypt data on the public internet, constraining bandwidth and data flows.
According to the latest research 35 percent of CIOs, IT Managers and business decision-makers believe that their mobile workforce will grow over the next year. A quarter of those questioned in the recent IDC EMEA Enterprise Mobility CIO Survey[1] also stated that they would spend more on mobile technology over the next 12 months.
Michel Robert, Managing Director at Claranet UK says: “Our new 3G service is an important part of our offering to a market that is adjusting to the rise of BYOD. CIOs need to be confident that this new mobile way of working will reduce complexity while maintaining the integrity and security of their data. If mobile working or back-up connectivity are not fully integrated with the private network, then IT departments effectively have to run 3G as a separate system. Different levels of security and specific authentication processes are then needed for the rest of their IT platform.
“For many businesses, it is now a given that their workforce will to some degree need to work remotely. Poorly integrated 3G is therefore a big issue for many.”
As well as having a direct connection to the private network for the mobile workforce, Claranet’s 3G solution also enables businesses to transact more reliably by acting as a resilient secondary connection supporting a primary Broadband line.
Retailer, Space NK, is using 3G in this way. Claranet is already supplying its 60 UK stores with its MPLS private network using Broadband backed up by 3G.
Anthony Baldwin, IT Manager at Space NK says: “Connectivity in our retail estate is an essential commodity. In the face of repeated incidents with copper lines and long repair times, we decided to implement a ‘no wires’ solution rather than a second line or ISDN back-up.
“A key issue for us is the robustness of the equipment in the store – a one box solution is critical, without any USB dongles or other similar hardware that can get easily knocked, and then disrupt the service. We also need to have automatic failover, where 3G picks up the slack when it is needed, without the need for our intervention.”
Critically, having 3G supplied by the same organisation that provides Space NK’s network ensures a more integrated service with a single line of accountability. There can be no argument as to who is responsible in the event of an issue with service.
Robert concluded: “3G is a tried-and-tested technology, but one that has mainly had to rely on the public internet. So by providing improved integration to Claranet’s private network, we are adding an important and valuable improvement – security – to our service.”
About Claranet
Founded in 1996, Claranet has evolved from being a pioneering ISP (Internet Service Provider) into an MSP (Managed Services Provider) with annual revenues of around £72 million. We have more than 500 employees, with an international footprint in six countries and although Claranet has grown internationally, the focus has always been on local service, out of local offices, using local data centres.
Claranet brings together the best people, process and technology to provide flexible, secure and cost-effective managed services that guarantee network and application performance. We allow customers to focus on their core business, not IT management.
