Hanover is one of the largest and most established providers of retirement housing, managing more than 18,000 properties across England. The Association provides a range of services and support options to enable older people to live independently. Hanover required a communication network that would not only improve the efficiency of their back office systems but, more importantly, ensure the safety and security of their residents and lone workers. The next-generation network solution from Thus has been tailored to meet these particular needs.
The contract will initially deliver a Multiple Protocol Label Switching Internet Protocol Virtual Private Network (MPLS IP VPN) to securely carry voice and data traffic, allowing Hanover to support a growing number of remote workers who need to access and share information quickly and securely i.e. databases, reports, email etc. The network will also link up offices and housing sites and provide cost savings, but also frees up resources to focus on the core activity of the organisation: improving the quality of life for their residents.
Richard Dryden, IS Director for Hanover said, "We chose to work with Thus because they took the time to listen to what we needed and wanted to do, and designed a communication network that fully reflected our wishes. More than this though, they offered us a solution that freed up our time to do our jobs and offered us a vision of what is possible in the future."
As the service roll out progresses, the reliability of Thus' next-generation network will play a crucial role in supporting the provision of features such as Hanover's Alarm, Hanover OnCall and ExtraCare services. These all play a direct roll in ensuring the safety and security of vulnerable people in their own homes and literally provide a lifeline to their aspirations of living safely and independently in terms of providing reassurance in emergencies.
Phil Male, Chief Operating Officer at Thus, said: "In addition to providing a network that will offer real service improvement and benefits, Hanover needed a supplier they could trust. Thus demonstrates that it offers clients a quality of service and a commitment to genuinely working with them on a personal level that delivers added value. We look forward to further developing our relationship with Hanover."
In addition to the day to day management of the network and offering a single point of contact for all faults, billings and enquiries, Thus will also play a proactive role in advising Hanover on service enhancement and development and new technology.