Agility opts for Vanco's virtual approach for regional network

Stuart Corner
Monday, 07 January 2008 15:14

IT Industry - Strategy

Agility Systems, a UK based provider of integrated supply chain solutions, has chosen global virtual network operator Vanco to set up and operate a regional wide area network to serve its operations in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The network will use Vanco's MPLS Matrix product to integrate four different MPLS providers across the region enabling the support of class of service (CoS) traffic prioritisation across these disparate networks with connectivity into the core of Agility's global.

Vanco does not own or operate any communications infrastructure but provides services in competition to global operators that do. It does this by buying commercially available services from other operators and integrating and managing these for its customers. It claims this approach has substantial advantages: enabling maximum network resiliency by using different carriers for primary and secondary connectivity.

"Our relationship with Vanco allowed us to select multiple best-fit regional suppliers and negated the often restrictive technology or service options that can come with using a single global service provider," said Michael Lacy, IT director for Agility Australasia. "This agreement provided access to the best fit solution and pricing for our local business, with the benefits of global support arrangements.

Vanco claims to be able to provide services in 230 countries and territories. Its clients include Accor Hotels, Avis Europe, British Airways, Ford Motor Company, IBM/Lloyds TSB, Siemens, Pilkington and Virgin Retail. The company has been in operation since 1988 and remains privately owned.