INDUSTRY NEWS COMMENT: FCS UPDATE Michael Eagle
FCS has received a number of queries from both members and non members who have been confused by recent changes to the regulation on contract terms. Queries have focused on the following main areas: Maximum duration of contracts: Changes to General Condition 9 which came into force in May include the requirement that the maximum term of initial contracts for
consumers should be two years. The two year restriction applies only to residential customers (consumer is defined in this context as a ‘natural person’, businesses of any size are therefore excluded). The requirement only applies to agreements struck after 25 May 2011. Users are to be offered an option to contract for a maximum duration of 12 months. This applies to all ‘users’ including residential customers and businesses of any size. This does not prevent the CP from offering longer contracts. The requirement is to offer an alternative 12 month option (which does not have to be on the same terms as the longer agreement). The 12 month contract options only have to be offered on request. Regarding the ability to withdraw from contracts without penalty following contract modifications, CPs report that some customers have misinterpreted this to mean that they can unilaterally withdraw without penalty from an agreement before the end of the contracted period. This actually means the customer can only withdraw from the contract if the modifications are likely to be of material detriment to that ‘subscriber’. Subscriber includes both residential and business customers (of any size). Ofcom is planning to introduce a prohibition on automatically renewable contracts but has not yet published its final statement. For more info email:
meagle@fcs.org.uk.
Michael Eagle, FCS General Manager
Timico bags Internet fi rm
TIMICO has acquired Power Internet (Powernet), the Milton Keynes-based Internet solution and service provider.
Powernet specialises in data connectivity, hosting services and IP telephony for its busi- ness client base. Tim Radford, the Chairman
of Timico Technology Group, said: “The acquisition gives us further scale to meet the grow- ing need for fully managed IT and communications solutions, whether they be Private Wide Area Networks or hosted data centre solutions.”
Powernet has Network Operations Centres in Milton Keynes, London and Manch- ester and has 30 staff across these locations. The firm’s CEO,
Tim Radford
Tony Tugulu, was one of the founders of the business, along- side Non-Executive Chairman Dennis Silverton, who has been heavily involved in the business from the outset. Tugulu said: “The synergies that exist mean we are able to offer even better solutions and service to our customers, particularly in the managed net- working and hosting space.”
Griffi n teaches MPLS
GRIFFIN’S MPLS sales work- shops are proving to be just the job for resellers wanting to win large networking tenders. Ongoing demand for MPLS knowledge prompted Griffin to stage two more hands-on events in Derby and London follow- ing workshops in February and May this year. “The workshops are interactive and demonstrate
how to engage with Griffin to make IP an effective and profit- able part of the product portfo- lio,” said Lee Broxson, Griffin’s Head of Sales. “We have the experience and resource available to help our resellers sell IP solutions effec- tively. We convert 90% of IP solutions that go through our white label pre-sales process.”
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Integralis has been awarded Regional Partner of the Year for the UK & Ireland by Juniper Networks. Integralis was recognised for its growth, managed services capability, the ability to provide 24x7 global multi-lingual support and customer commitment.
DMSL has been named BT Indirect Partner Sales Broadband Partner of the Year. John Carter, MD of DMSL, said: “By putting most of our focus on regions where higher speed ADSL2+ and fibre services are available, we’ve been able to deliver positive results.”
Chess Wholesale has reported its best quarter for volume of business placed and number of new resellers signed. Big pulling factors are Chess’ product portfolio, financial package, free WLR3 access and discounted billing.
7 Telecoms has signed up to the ebillz billing platform. Alex Ortegon, Director of 7 Telecoms, said: “Choosing the right billing system was a key decision for us as we want to go full throttle in our sales and marketing drive.”
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