Intelligent CIO Europe Issue 21 | Page 7

NEWS Jisc bolsters network to support UK’s research and education sector J isc, the UK higher, further education and research sector’s not-for- profit organisation for digital services and solutions, is deploying Ciena’s Packet Networking platforms to enhance its Janet Network and provide high-speed connectivity across the UK. Networking platforms to address growing needs for high-bandwidth services delivering up to 100GbE, as well as reducing footprint and power costs. Over the next four years, Jisc will upgrade and rearchitect its access infrastructure across the UK with Ciena’s platforms. “Our goal is for the UK to be the most digitally-advanced higher and further education and research nation in the world. To do that, it is vital that we continue to improve Janet, which supports more than 18 million users and 800 organisations across the UK,” said Janet Chief Technology Officer, Jeremy Sharp. “Ciena’s platforms help us provide the fast, highly-resilient and scalable connectivity that gives our members the best research and collaboration experience possible.” “Scientific research and education hinges on high-speed, reliable connectivity,” said Rod Wilson, Chief Technologist for Research Networks at Ciena. “Rapid growth in data intensive research such as high-energy physics and genome engineering means that researchers need agile networks to support a range of services from massive flows for computational science to distributed services for individual researchers and educators.” Having previously worked with Ciena to deliver 400G wavelength connectivity, Jisc recently selected Ciena’s 8700 and 5170 Packet ///////////////// Infraspeak launches in UK, offering customers innovative, sustainable tech software I nfraspeak, a powerful multi-award-winning platform offering fully customisable, sustainable technology for the hospitality industry, has launched in the UK. However, Infraspeak isn’t new to the industry – it currently supports 180 customers in seven countries, counting brands such as Six Senses, InterContinental and Sheraton Hotels as clients. Managing 18,000 buildings, the brand’s goal is to streamline facilities management for the UK hospitality industry through dedicated customer service and easy to use desktop and mobile interfaces. Infraspeak heralds a new age in facility management. It has developed a modular platform that automates and simplifies the process of facilities management. The platform uses innovative technologies such as NFC, APIs, apps and sensors, bringing benefits such as time saving for both www.intelligentcio.com and offer our clients flexible software that is bespoke to their needs. Launching Infraspeak in the UK and getting to know more about the routine operations in the UK is an excellent opportunity to improve our platform and an important step to grow in more markets.” How is it sustainable? management and technicians and cost saving with sustainable benefits. Infraspeak’s diverse technology can manage technical operations from maintenance to quality audits, stock, purchases, housekeeping, inventory and more in a simple and efficient system. Felipe Ávila da Costa, CEO of Infraspeak, commented: “Our aim is to modernise a predominantly paper-based industry Eighty percent of hotel admin is largely paper-based and excel is most commonly used to run all hospitality maintenance. Infraspeak completely removes the need for paper as all facilities management can be logged and traced to completion through the software. Infraspeak’s intelligent software uses data to start to predict problems in advance, rather than simply reacting to issues when they arise. This predictive approach to maintenance means Infraspeak saves time, money and resources sustainably and efficiently. INTELLIGENTCIO 7