Admiral opts for ntl:Telewest's NGN at contact centre 

Admiral Group, the motor insurance specialist, is using the ntl:Telewest Business next generation network (NGN) to power communications links to a new contact centre in Newport, south Wales, as part of an operational expansion.

ntl:Telewest Business, part of the Virgin Media group, has installed high-speed 50 Megabits-persecond (Mbps) National Ethernet circuits linking the Newport facility to its other sites in Cardiff and Swansea in a network design that delivers optimum resiliency.
 
Cardiff-headquartered Admiral selected ntl:Telewest Business, which has the only UK-wide NGN, after the telco demonstrated a desire to fully understand its business strategy and deliver a network design matched to its specific needs.

The new resilient circuits are delivered over the wholly-owned ntl:Telewest Business access and core networks, with a conventional BT local link also included in the design to increase resiliency.

The service configuration enables Admiral, in the event of one provider's link failing, to automatically switch communications traffic to and from the contact centre to be carried over the other's link, with minimal operational impact.
 
The National Ethernet circuits ensure that all agents at the new contact centre can access customer records and other policy information immediately. As the Group continues to expand, the enhanced communications services ensure that it can offer high-quality policy quote, renewal and management services to its customers at all times.

Founded in 1993, the FTSE 100 company now has nine brands including household names such as Diamond for women drivers and online insurance specialist elephant.co.uk.
 
"Our ability to support the information requirements of a growing customer base day and night is fundamental to the continued success of our business," said Steve Webster, IT Director, Admiral Group. "This was a significant project for Admiral and we needed to ensure we could trust the chosen telco to deliver a high quality network service in exactly the way we needed it.
 
"By using the next generation ntl:Telewest Business network together with an independent link from the BT network, our information is available fast, and is completely protected against the risk of one network experiencing a failure. The investment in National Ethernet circuits ensures that our new contact centre benefits from optimum resiliency and effectiveness from day one," said Mr Webster.
 
"There is a growing desire in the insurance sector to protect against the risk of information system glitches by ensuring total network resiliency. This means the ntl:Telewest Business network has become highly attractive for providers wanting next generation communications speeds and flexibility, and the addition of a local BT link alongside that means services can be retained unaffected even in the event of a major network outage," said Nia Morgan, Sales Manager for ntl:Telewest Business in Wales.
 
About ntl:Telewest Business

ntl:Telewest Business has the most technically advanced of the UK's two national networks. Its vast nation-wide Next Generation Network provides businesses, public sector organisations and service providers across the UK with a complete portfolio of advanced data, internet and voice services. The £13billion network is flexible, scaleable and is already built out to more than 38,000 street cabinets across the UK.
 
As part of a commitment to deliver superior customer service, ntl:Telewest Business sales and support teams are located in close proximity to its customers in over 40 centres across the UK.

ntl:Telewest Business press contacts:
 
Louise O'Brien                                              
ntl:Telewest Business                                   
T: 01256 752769                                      
E: louise.obrien@virginmedia.co.uk 
 
Steve Earl, Press Office
Rainier PR
T: 020 7494 6574
E: searl@rainierpr.co.uk

Date - 27/11/2008