NTL:Telewest Business has implemented a virtual private network across Golden Gates Housing’s entire organisation, spanning eight locations and 270 staff. The two-month project at Golden Gates, an ALMO for Warrington Borough Council’s 8700 properties, went live in April 2009, with the contract worth around £120,000.
The Metro Ethernet VPN has connected Golden Gates’ seven offices with its call centre, so that converged IP voice and data shared across the housing authority can benefit from 20Mb or 30Mb of dedicated bandwidth. The investment means that Golden Gates can streamline its inbound traffic, redirecting it during peak times to other offices. It also means the association can benefit from free calls between its offices, saving around £100,000 over the next five years.
Steve Lamb, head of ICT, Golden Gates Housing, said, “We wanted a system that could help to change the way we worked, and enable us to cope with the increased interest in our services brought on by the downturn in the housing market. NTL:Telewest Business is much more than a supplier to us – it’s a partner in our success, as we’ve been able to reduce costs and improve performance by implementing the technologies they recommended.”
Andy Marshall, head of business markets for NTL: Telewest Business, said, “In tough economic times, it often falls to the social housing sector to provide help to worried families and individuals. This is one area where improved technology can make a difference as it allows housing associations to work more flexibly and make the best use of their resources.”
