Anglia Regional Co-op Deploys Multi-Application Network to Support Growth and Business Continuity Plans

21 September, 2007 – Anglia Regional Co-operative Society (ARCS) has deployed a multi-application VPN network across its 110 stores, maximising the business benefit of its IP network and saving 40% on its annual communications bills.

The retail group, which has an annual turnover of £300m, has signed a three-year managed service contract with leading virtual network operator TFM Networks, to support further network growth and expansion, and forming an important element of the group’s business continuity plans.

TFM Networks’ multi-application solution provides a managed service capable of meeting the evolving business needs of the Co-op. Network throughput has been doubled, with services such as digital media now introduced to stores and carried out over the existing Broadband connection, making it more economical and generating maximum business benefit.

Mark Kelby, IT Infrastructure Manager at ARCS said: “By opting for a Quality of Service-enabled, multi-application network, we have the advantage that as well as making the most of network bandwidth, we have been able to migrate mission-critical applications such as credit card payments onto the network, guaranteeing business performance.

“TFM Networks have created a bespoke network solution to meet our changing business needs, and created a platform for future growth, with new stores opening over the next year. Over the next 12 months, we will potentially also be putting CCTV onto the network to make further operational savings, and will be trialling the use of Voice Over IP.”

Anglia Co-op has ADSL-based MPLS IP VPN across its 110-store network, linking up food and department stores, garages and funeral services to its Peterborough headquarters. This has created a unified network which, the customer says, has dramatically improved all areas of network-based communication and business activity.

The network also forms an important element of the group’s business continuity plans, with TFM also managing an SDSL line between the groups remote disaster recovery centre in Birmingham and its 110 store network, guaranteeing the smooth running of business operations, in any eventuality.

TFM Networks supplies ARCS with a complete managed service and wide area network, with Broadband services from Tiscali and managed using Allied Telesyn hardware at the individual stores. TFM have also agreed to house spare routers and switches to eliminate IT network storage issues for the group.

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Founded in 1999, TFM Networks is the fastest-growing UK virtual network operator, dedicated to making business networks more profitable, through the use of cost-effective, business-led network solutions.

TFM Networks works with a number of leading UK and international organisations in a number of sectors, including retail, hospitality and manufacturing, with major clients including Burger King, Travelodge, H&M and Thomson.

This release was published on openPR.