Using carrier-grade wireless for its last mile delivery, Metronet circumvents the need to depend upon BT for any part of its managed network services which, it says, it delivers to a better Service Level Agreement than any other provider in the UK.
The Company highlights the acquisition of 400 commercial B2B customers and zero customer churn (Metronet claims to have only ever lost customers due to business failure or office relocation) as testimony to its service being better than that of any other network operator.
It adds that the power of its network is best demonstrated by its support for more than 1000 real-time CCTV cameras across its infrastructure throughout Manchester and now in Birmingham.
Originally formed in Manchester, Metronet has gone on to establish profitable presence in Liverpool, Leeds and Dublin and now has its sights set firmly on replicating its success in Birmingham, where the Company has built a resilient network capable of providing 95%+ coverage inside the motorway ring formed by the M6/M42/M5 with coverage outside also possible.
With more than a third of its business generated via the channel, Metronet believes that the compelling argument for resellers is the competitive edge that its services bring and the fact that, unlike legacy network operators, it pays a margin on sales.
The Company offers completely uncontended, fully symmetric leased-line Internet and Point-to-Point (MPLS) services operating at data rates from 1Mbps to 1Gbps. An additional range of value added services include managed firewall, colocation/hosting and private network management. It also provides temporary solutions for events such as the recent visit by Pope Benedict to the City.
Commenting on the expansion, Elliott Mueller, CEO said, “Early adopters of our services in the City affirm that our commercial proposition is very competitive and I predict that there is sufficient market capacity for us to double our customer base through customer acquisition in Birmingham alone.”
Metronet is already engaged with local police and local authorities where it has a track record for delivery of wireless solutions, having secured business relationships with five of the ten Local Authorities in Manchester and having been appointed as a Strategic Partner to Greater Manchester Police.
Mueller claims that corporate customers increasingly appreciate the quality of service delivered by the Company at a price point where traditional network operators simply cannot compete. “That Metronet services are delivered within five working days of receipt of order and operate to a 99.95% Service Level Agreement with a four hour to fix commitment is a real bonus for customers that are frankly sick and tired of the poor quality of customer service from traditional providers”, he said.
He went on to explain that service was the key differentiator for Metronet, pointing to the Company’s 24x7 help desk manned by engineers that respond instantly to problems rather than call centre staff that act as a buffer between problem and resolution. “Most operators,” continued Mueller, “have an SLA with notional compensation arrangements when they fail. Metronet delivers on its commitment because the founders have implanted quality service in the DNA of the Business. We simply will not tolerate anything less than total satisfaction.”
A direct fibre connection from Birmingham to Metronet’s core network allows it to claim a better quality of service than any other provider. Birmingham based businesses face no more than three network switch hops before layoff to the World Wide Web through Metronet’s own fibre infrastructure interconnecting through Telecity and Telehouse. Legacy network operators with complex infrastructure cannot guarantee such a fast path to the Internet.