Business

Rainbow Communications secures major civil service telecoms contract

Rainbow Communications has inked a major multi-year deal with the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) to upgrade and maintain crucial telephony communications networks across 185 locations. Pictured outside Parliament Buildings are Stuart Carson, sales director at Rainbow Communications and Philip McCauley, head of telecommunications for the Northern Ireland Civil Service
Rainbow Communications has inked a major multi-year deal with the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) to upgrade and maintain crucial telephony communications networks across 185 locations. Pictured outside Parliament Buildings are Stuart Carson, sales Rainbow Communications has inked a major multi-year deal with the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) to upgrade and maintain crucial telephony communications networks across 185 locations. Pictured outside Parliament Buildings are Stuart Carson, sales director at Rainbow Communications and Philip McCauley, head of telecommunications for the Northern Ireland Civil Service
By Gareth McKeown

THE north's largest independent telecom provider Rainbow Communications has secured a major multi-year contract with the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

Belfast-based Rainbow has announced the new deal to upgrade and maintain the Civil Service's telephony communications networks across 185 locations.

The contract award win means that Rainbow can now power ahead transforming out-dated government telephony infrastructure and transferring approximately 55,000 direct dial-in points to fully-equipped centralised data centres which will unify, underpin and strengthen its communications network for a generation.

Led by Eric Carson, a former head of both Mercury Communications and Orange in Northern Ireland, and Martin Hamill, Rainbow Communications is a locally-owned company, which employs almost 100 people.

The firm is focused on helping organisations to become more efficient, resilient and technologically equipped for future growth and since 2010 Rainbow has contributed in excess of £30 million to the Northern Ireland economy.

Speaking about the new lucrative contract Mr Carson said Rainbow would provide central government with a with a strong telecommunications network "fit for the 21st century" and the needs of its thousands of users.

“Delivering expertise and value were key criteria as part of the procurement process and we are delighted to now play our part in helping government to radically enhance its communication infrastructure while assisting it to achieve sustained cost savings and improved operational efficiencies for many years to come.”

Philip McCauley, Head of Telecommunications for the Northern Ireland Civil Service, added:

“Service delivery is the government’s number one priority and this contract award will help us to ensure we can maintain that provision by introducing a quality, single infrastructure solution which not only provides stability and resilience for years to come but which reduces costs and improves flexibility and reliability.”

The Northern Ireland Civil Service and associated government bodies handle and make millions of calls every year and the upgrade works will be extended across the full network.