Press releases

ACCA adds up benefits of ntl’s business communications solutions

• ntl wins £1.85 million managed service contract with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• ntl’s National Ethernet solution to deliver LAN performance to the WAN
• Consolidating ACCA’s communications to enhance its technology at lower costs

7 April 2005 – ntl, a leading provider of business communications services, has secured a managed service contract worth in excess of £1.85 million over three years, to provide communications for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). As ACCA’s preferred supplier, ntl will deliver a voice and data connectivity solution via its £9bn network, offering unparalleled reliability and network expertise.

Amongst the ntl Business products deployed, ntl’s National Ethernet solution, launched in March 2005, will enable ACCA to network its four office sites across the UK, delivering superior network performance and consolidated network management at lower costs. The solution will power real-time collaboration between disparate sites and secure, centralised storage. It will facilitate the deployment of distributed applications throughout the organisation and will enable ACCA to provide an enhanced service to its growing users.

To meet ACCA’s needs for variable bandwidth capabilities depending on the time of year and its commitment to providing online services to its members, ntl will also provide high bandwidth Dedicated Internet Access. ntl’s ISDN30 will ensure that incoming calls are instantly directed to the best person to deal with the enquiry, promoting a more efficient customer service.

For the past 12 years, ACCA has used a combination of voice and leased lines services, but was finding it increasingly difficult to control and contain costs with  disparate providers. With ntl as a single supplier deploying, managing and maintaining its communications, ACCA has consolidated its requirements for the first time.

ntl won the contract as part of a competitive tendering process between ACCA’s three existing telecoms suppliers and was selected because of its superior technology, reliability, network reach and expertise and competitive price point.

Mark Devine, IT Director of ACCA comments: "We wanted to combine a premises move and cyclical upgrade whilst adding value to the organisation and reducing operational overheads. The brief was for a telecoms system that was easy to support from one location - not across several sites - and that offered better network efficiency. ntl offered a significantly better cost option with a fully comprehensive, sophisticated technology suite. As a partner, ntl has been excellent, it has not only met but exceeded our highest of expectations."

Lucy Green, Director of Product Marketing at ntl Business commented: "Migrating ACCA to ntl’s Ethernet solutions upgraded the existing telecoms system, bringing LAN performance to the WAN and allowing it to network its disparate offices to provide both short and long-term savings. The inherent strength of ntl’s IP-based network makes it the ideal partner to ensure ACCA has scalable voice and data provision for the future. "

"By offering a secure Ethernet connection, ACCA can achieve a more responsive relationship with customers and employees, as well as introducing new services such as multimedia presentations, VoIP and collaborative working, " Green continued.