OIC strengthens and streamlines communications infrastructure

Vital connectivity services for Orkney, has been completed by Exchange Communications, one of the UK’s leading telephony and digital transformation specialists, streamlining council services and providing enhanced services for more than 22,000 residents.

Exchange Communications won the contract with Orkney Islands Council to install a future-proof new communication infrastructure for its 750 office based employees, which will help them deliver council services more effectively across the islands as services and amenities continue to increase. 

Work included the installation of new servers, moving phone lines to use voice over internet connectivity, updating switchboard lines to use SIP services ahead of the ISDN switchover deadline in 2025.

Exchange will also deliver a fully managed service, with full unified communications functionality including soft client, mobile applications and desk phones, giving full functionality and flexibility to those working across the network whether they are working from their office base, from home or any other connected location on the islands.

Tom Sime, Managing Director for Exchange Communications said: “This is a landmark project for Orkney Council. Not only have we supported more than 750 employees to deliver council services in a more streamlined and resilient way, but it also supports all within the community to access Council services more effectively, which will dramatically improve the day-to-day running of this diverse location, situated ten miles from the north-coast of Scotland.

“We have successfully installed services that have future-proofed Orkney Council’s communication infrastructure, with plenty of room for growth for any new council buildings, for example, schools to be part of it. 

“As well as the direct benefits to the council employees and its users, there will be cost saving benefits to the new system and it also allows them to have a system that is already ahead of the BT ISDN cut-off deadline, forecast for December 2025.”

Karen Greaves, OIC’s Head of Executive Support, said: “Being connected with a modern, robust and reliable phone system is vital to the day-to-day running of all our services to the people of Orkney. We are delighted that the new communications system has bedded in successfully and staff have been using it for several weeks now. We must commend our Customer Services team and IT colleagues who worked so hard, in conjunction with Exchange Communications, to ensure the new system was in place and able to go live. We look forward to it serving us well over many years to come.”

Exchange Communications is a leading cloud and digital transformation specialist, delivering telecom and smart building connectivity solutions to businesses in over 100 countries worldwide.

For more information visit www.exchangecommunications.co.uk