Choosing the right technologies
Lorraine Butler, Director of Enterprise and Government at eircom Business, talks to eolas about how the company is working hard to support the Government’s reform efforts and how mobile and cloud technologies can be exploited to enhance the way Government does business.
Communications provider eircom has a clear focus when it comes to supporting Government departments and agencies in developing their ICT platforms.
The company has a dedicated team of experts with significant experience in delivering tailored, cost-effective solutions to the public sector.
Lorraine Butler is the newly appointed Director of Enterprise and Government for eircom Business: “We’ve been a trusted communications partner to the Government and public sector bodies for a number of years now. We are therefore only too aware of the challenges they face on a day-to-day basis. Managing costs while delivering maximum efficiency is vital to the running of Government agencies but equally important is the use of innovative communications solutions.”
Challenging
The tough economic climate that has prevailed in Ireland in recent years has challenged everyone, from small business owners to large enterprises, to review how they manage their businesses. Government agencies and public service bodies are no different in this respect.
The importance of managing costs is crucial for Government agencies and the ability to have a clear picture of the expenditure is something that is essential when making any purchasing decisions or deciding on what route to take with new technologies. But the overarching question is: “If you tighten spending, are you hampering innovation?” Not so, says Lorraine Butler.
“Everyone is under pressure to get the best value, manage budgets, maintain high service levels and mitigate risks,” says Butler. “When it comes to communications, it’s about choosing the right technologies for your individual needs. There are so many different technologies available to help drive efficiencies and create better, more effective working environments. However, it’s not about using all the technologies at your disposal; it’s about using and tailoring the ones that are right for your business. That’s what leads to better efficiency and ultimately greater innovation within organisations.”
Real innovation
When asked what are the unique technology challenges facing Government she replies: “One of the big challenges with the public sector right now is the wide range of ICT systems and platforms across the various government departments and the individual management of these. The migration from these older systems to next generation platforms is a significant and time-consuming piece of work with considerable business disruption.
“It is a crucial piece of work, especially when you consider the shift of users to online transactions and the fact that next generation technology can better support this. It will make for a better citizen experience and also lead to a better way of working for the public sector overall. When it comes to choosing the right technologies, I believe it’s not about ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions. Flexibility and scalability are important. At eircom, our strength lies in our ability to work in partnership with our customers to deliver solutions that are not only cost-effective and secure, but tailored and relevant to individual organisations, departments and ultimately their end users.”
A mobile government
Butler believes that similarly to the private sector business environment, the public sector has begun to operate in an “always-on” business environment. Therefore when it comes to communications, connectivity and mobility are key.
eMobile is eircom’s mobile phone service and following an extensive programme of investment in its mobile network, eMobile was named as an official participant on the Government Framework. It was also the first operator to bring 4G services to Ireland, which Butler sees as being “critical to the future success” of our government and enterprise customers – specifically the functionality that 4G brings to customers who are heavily reliant on data.
“4G is a game changer and we are delighted to have been the first operator to bring its benefits to market,” says Butler. “4G will ultimately deliver increased speeds, greater network capacity and enhanced services to users. It makes a real difference to our customers, especially in terms of driving improved performance including file transfers, video conferencing and remote access to a wide range of business applications.”
With the increased reliance on smartphones and tablets, it is important to use a provider that will ensure you are always connected, no matter where you are. In the coming five years, eircom plans to invest a further €350 million on the roll-out of 4G services and improved 3G coverage.
In addition to the roll-out of 4G, eircom’s nationwide WiFiHub hotspots give users the ability to access free WiFi across the country. WiFiHub hotspots have been set up in key locations for business users such as at Dublin Airport, Irish Rail and Dart stations as well as petrol stations and cafés across the country.
“The reality is people want a ‘mobile desk’. We know the importance of being able to access emails, applications and work on the go. All of the improvements and investment we are making to our mobile and indeed our fixed network allows our customers to do that. So much business is conducted online today and a significant portion of it is done on the move.”
Moving to the cloud
Butler believes the move to the cloud will accelerate in Ireland as organisations become familiar with it and the many benefits it can bring to everyday working life.
“Cloud computing provides scalable IT on demand, allowing for greater flexibility and scalability. Rather than having to spend capital on expensive equipment that may lie idle during off-peak periods, users just pay for what they use, as they use it,” Butler points out.
eircom Business has partnered with global cloud market leader Amazon Web Services (AWS) in order to enhance its cloud services. The partnership has boosted eircom’s capability in adding greater value to its customers who wish to avail of cloud services.
According to Butler, the strategic partnership with AWS puts eircom on a firm footing in the cloud business.
“AWS is the leader, on a global scale, in cloud computing. With the AWS platform embedded in our secure network we can offer customers cloud-based services tailored to meet their specific purposes in a highly secure environment, fully supported by our dedicated business service organisation. eircom’s data centre services are very closely tied to Amazon through the AWS Direct Connect service.
“Using private connections that by-pass the public internet, AWS Direct Connect enables eircom’s cloud customers to directly access Amazon data centres in Ireland. This means that data can be transferred and accessed in a fraction of a second using a highly robust and secure connection. We feel this will be particularly attractive for government networks as it means national data will remain within the State while still availing of cloud elasticity and security.”
The right tools for the job
The eircom Business strategy has key themes running throughout – delivering cost efficiency, driving innovation, risk mitigation and integrated support.
Butler concludes: “For us, it’s about giving our customers access to the best communications solutions for their individual business needs. It’s also about equipping them with the know-how to make the most of those solutions. Our extensive communications portfolio and commitment to put customers in the centre of all that we do ensures we are uniquely positioned, when it comes to technology and expertise, to provide the level of connectivity and service expected by the public sector in an evolving communications environment.”
Lorraine Butler, Director of Enterprise and Government, eircom Business
Email: lorrainebutler@eircom.ie
Website: business.eircom.net
