technology: social networks 29
Super-fast carrier grade network is here
Leading data centre colocation and connectivity solutions provider C4L has deployed a new high-speed MPLS/VPLS Ethernet network across its entire UK estate of On-Net data centres.
The new carrier grade network means that C4L will be able to bring together communications, cloud and connectivity to introduce products and services to market much faster and more efficiently than ever before, potentially reducing network and data centre installations from a month to a day.
The IP network was designed for C4L by Alternative Networks (Alternative), using Juniper MX transit routers and Extreme metro-switching hardware for scalability, maximum security and resilience. Alternative is one of the most experienced providers of IP infrastructures and data centre solutions in the UK and a long- standing Juniper Elite Partner and Extreme Platinum Partner.
“There is significant demand for increased bandwidth from our customers, with data consumption and internet usage growing 50% per year,“ explained Matt Hawkins, C4L
c4l_businesssolenad.pdf 1 14/05/2013 16:50:55
chairman. “Our own expanding colocation footprint, new cloud service adoption and complex network designs have helped drive this.
“We recognised that while access circuits of 100Mbps & 1Gbps are common in data centres, 10Gbps are rapidly becoming the norm; growth to 40Gbps and even 100Gbps is already being discussed, so we needed to address this performance demand.“
Alternative worked with C4L to develop, test and implement this entirely new network solution which brings together the Juniper core network and Extreme edge access network products, to ensure the lowest latency and highest density available.
“Alternative was the only supplier that offered the experience of implementing both Juniper and Extreme technologies in parallel,“ continued Hawkins. “By offering the next generation of bandwidth capability, it is our vision that businesses are not constrained by limitations in technology, bandwidth or timescale. We are constantly challenging the industry and expect to be providing 100Gbps connections in the near future.“
Online popularity can be dangerous for business
Too much of a good thing can be bad for business according to a top UK digital marketing consultant. Social media expert Scott Dylan believes that many SMEs and even some larger firms are falling into the trap of thinking that more is better when it comes to their social media followers. Speaking on the back of the recent furore concerning celebrity endorsements, Dylan has spotted an alarming trend which he says could end up costing many firms dearly.
“Many businesses fall into the trap of thinking they must be perceived to be popular online so spend time and money on getting as many social media followers as possible. I think this is a very dangerous mindset as contrary to popular belief, social media is not a numbers game.
“A business doesn’t need thousands or hundreds of thousands of followers to be successful and chasing after online popularity through celebrity endorsements or purchasing followers means that a firm has really taken its eye off the ball and forgotten what is important – engaging with the small percentage that has an interest in the product or a need for the service.“
Dylan argues that it is better to have 800 fans who will engage and buy than 80,000 who are simply there to make up the numbers. With so much pressure on to be successful online, many firms are more interested in the perception of popularity online, rather than the return from real engaging followers.
C M Y CM MY CY CMY K
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – SEPTEMBER 2013
www.businessmag.co.uk
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