INSIGHT
Gigabit Britain
As the demand for higher, more fl exible, bandwidth services increases the Channel has an opportunity to
offer more fl avours of connectivity than ever. Mike Greening, Commercial and Strategy Director, Business
Communications at Sky Business explains the Channel opportunity
The current interpretation
in the world.
their businesses, is now key
of a digital Britain is to
e arrival of new B2B
to the Channel’s growth
provide everyone in the
providers in the connectivity
opportunities and maybe even
UK access to ultra-fast
sector (such as Sky) with
our moral responsibility.
connectivity which means
signi cant network capacity is
SD WAN (Software-de ned
gigabit capable speeds, so
shaking up the availability of fast
Wider Area Networking) is
providers at a wholesale and
and reliable internet access across
being hailed as the facilitator
reseller level need to ensure they
the whole of Britain. Sky’s
to the networking and digital
can indeed provide gigabit+
Ethernet network already reaches
revolution. Increased visibility,
services to their customers.
96% of business postcodes in
simpli ed scalability and new
Fibre and ultra-fast
the UK and in readiness for the
income streams for partners are
connectivity needs to be
uptake of ultra-fast broadband
amongst the potential bene ts.
everywhere! We must not
services and migration to higher
Let’s not forget that SD
forget that it’s the key enabler
speed Ethernet services we’re
WAN cannot function without
for digital transformation.
continuing to upgrade our
connectivity, one of the key
Organisations need providers
network infrastructure to future
building blocks that resellers
to have a scalable and reliable
proof our position as the leading
cannot get wrong. Without
network to build their additional
provider of Gigabit services.
a reliable, secure and robust
value-add products; this is
Increasing demand has
connectivity network, SD
what will transform the digital
enabled the Channel to take
WAN will be pointless. Partners
experience for end users and
connectivity to the wider market
therefore need to think very
maintain momentum on the
at a ordable price points. If
carefully about who they choose
development of a digital and
the Channel can now focus on
as a connectivity supplier. ey
Gigabit Britain.
the upsell to gigabit products at
need to collaborate with the best
We see big opportunities
these a ordable prices, we will
carriers, ones with continuous
for the Channel around higher
see Britain’s businesses getting
network investment, o ering
bandwidth needs, the demand
the speeds they need. Let’s not
agility to operationally enable
for access to alt-nets across the
forget Government initiatives
and commercially support
UK and the launch of new bre
such as the Govt Voucher
new network and commercial
connectivity products to bolster
Scheme are also there to support
models.
portfolios. Many Channel
the Channel in delivering a
What is certain is that
members focus solely on the roll
Digital and Gigabit Britain.
businesses will continue to
out of new FTTP products as
e ‘Digital Britain’
see the bene ts, and indeed
the key element to digitalisation
government initiative has led
the necessity, of digital
and it clearly is a key supporting
to the explosion of connectivity
transformation and with
element. If we want to make
choice but with this has brought
that the demand for higher
Britain truly digital, we all
elements of confusion as options
bandwidth and product
need to ensure the roll out of
are so varied and seem to be
innovation will continue.
connectivity is across the whole
ever-changing. e need to help
Bandwidth needs are set to
UK – not just our major towns
businesses not feel overwhelmed,
continue with or without SD
and cities. We need our digital
whilst helping them to embrace
WAN.
economy to catch up with others
the challenge of transforming
Partners have a few options
The UK’s largest
independent
network.
zen.co.uk/partnerwithus Zen.
Larger than you think.
to consider when launching
their own SD Wan product. Sky
is a wholesale provider and as
such will provide the underlying
network capability for our
partners. We aim to enable
partners to develop and build
their own propositions to ensure
they are meeting the demands in
the market.
e di erentiators for the
Channel are now the advice
and support that they can add
around these product sets, and
how they can articulate and
propose the right solutions
for the right business needs.
Businesses now have access to
more and more
choice in the
market and it
can be very
confusing
for
businesses
especially
with all
the di erent
terminology
used.
Mike Greening, Commercial and
Strategy Director, Business
Communications at Sky Business
22 | Digital Britain 2019 www.commsbusiness.co.uk
/partnerwithus
/www.commsbusiness.co.uk