The acquisition forms part of Aerelink’s ongoing strategic evolution, which has already seen the company expand its presence both physically and through an extended service offering. This purchase allows Aerelink to extend its IP network delivery portfolio and become an end-to-end network service provider.
Since opening its new headquarters in December 2009, based in 1000m² premises at Turnstone Business Park, Widnes, Aerelink has expanded its services by adding a fully-managed network monitoring service. This has enabled Aerelink to offer a proactive monitoring service to both new and existing customers, driving down costs and providing improved SLAs over traditional carrier services. The skills Rapier Systems’ brings will continue this progression by advancing the network development arm of the business.
Through Rapier Systems, Aerelink will also become an Alcatel-Lucent direct business partner and gain access to its end-to-end enterprise product portfolio, which encompasses IP network infrastructure, telephony, contact centre and unified communication and collaboration solutions.
“We are delighted to welcome Aerelink on board as a key business partner,” said Keith Downie, channel sales director, UK&I Enterprise Markets Group at Alcatel-Lucent. “Aerelink’s rapidly growing service offering, alongside its national reach, makes this a key partnership for us as we look to expand our channel presence throughout the UK & Ireland.”
“Both Aerelink and Rapier Systems maximise each other’s strengths and the acquisition will help us to provide a fuller, more comprehensive service, much faster than if we had developed this arm of the business in-house. The move is a significant step in the company’s plans for growth, fulfilling our strategic need in this area,” comments Steve Swift, managing director of Aerelink.
“With existing premises in the North-West and Scotland, the acquisition and Rapier System’s presence in the south will allow us to better serve customers across the whole of the UK,” he adds.
Richard Mumford, co-owner of Rapier Systems, says: “There is such great synergy between Rapier Systems and Aerelink and we see the acquisition as a really comfortable fit. Aerelink’s leadership will allow us to reach our full potential, while our capabilities will help to strengthen the overall service proposition of Aerelink.”