BT today announced a partnership with HPE to offer customers a new managed service powered by HPE Aruba Networking delivering improved performance, flexibility and control of local area networks (LANs). It combines BT’s global reach and extensive experience in the design, deployment and management of in-building wired and wireless connectivity with the latest HPE Aruba Networking LAN solutions. 

Many legacy LANs struggle to support hybrid workers’ expectations when accessing apps in offices, branches, warehouses, factories or campuses. This is exacerbated by increasing use of bandwidth-hungry video collaboration tools. Colleagues also expect consistent and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity around the building. The increasing number of connected devices, including internet of things (IoT), adds further complexity and cyber security risks.

BT’s new HPE Aruba Networking Managed LAN service will allow customers to securely modernise connectivity to support changing workstyles and keep apace of IoT demands. 

As a first step, BT audits the LAN to identify what is already in place and what could be re-used and anything that should be replaced. HPE Aruba Networking provides interoperable technology that can avoid the need to replace the entire network. BT will work collaboratively with the customer to manage costs by providing a staged approach to modernisation with benefits realised at each stage.

BT then evaluates how to secure and protect connected devices. It simplifies visibility by giving customers a single dashboard hosted in the cloud. This centralises reporting, analytics, security, scalability and resilience in one platform to help customers deliver a consistent end-user experience. It can also identify redundant devices using unnecessary power and automate network and energy optimisation.

Andrew Small, director of voice and digital work, Business, BT Group, said: “It’s clear that legacy in-building networks can’t handle modern hybrid working and IoT devices, never mind what comes next.  That’s why we’re expanding customer choice of managed LAN solutions by partnering with HPE Aruba Networking. This will offer the visibility, flexibility and security customers need to deliver productive, trusted wired and wireless connectivity.”

“Global customers that are building their connectivity strategies are focusing on modern enterprise networks that are secure, agile, responsive to business needs and simple to operate, while being powerful drivers of transformation,” said Phil Mottram, executive vice president and general manager, HPE Aruba Networking. “HPE Aruba Networking is at the forefront of reinventing how customers and partners can consume or deliver business-outcome focused networking, and by integrating our AI, security, automation, and Network as a Service capabilities, our global managed LAN service with BT is an example of how the network is helping customers achieve their business objectives.”

BT today has launched a new proposition to help multinational customers evolve their networks for net zero carbon emissions and deliver circularity in a measurable way.

Sustainability is now a major factor in decision-making for almost all customers globally. Carbon reduction and circularity targets are cascading throughout organisations, including to CIOs and IT teams. However, with networks and digital assets dispersed around the world, many CIOs struggle to effectively measure energy consumption and carbon emissions as well as put in place processes for managing end-of-life equipment.

BT’s new sustainability proposition combines the company’s digital carbon measurement tools, network design services, in-life support and recycling and re-use schemes with strategic partners to deliver a comprehensive managed service for customers.

BT experts can support a full range of network refresh, re-design or transformation plans across customers’ local area networks (LAN) or operational technology (OT) infrastructure. Using BT’s new Digital Carbon Calculator, designs can be assessed for their potential carbon footprint and optimised for the best results. 

The Calculator shows designers details of each network device’s power consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. This gives them the information needed to balance performance, energy consumption, emissions and cost. Once the optimal design is agreed, BT can order equipment, configure and implement it, supporting customers throughout their full network evolution journey.

BT’s Carbon Network Dashboard then provides customers with real-time, detailed data and reports on their devices' energy performance in-life across both LAN and OT infrastructure.

The new service also helps customers to reduce the amount of old equipment heading to landfill. According to WEF, e-waste will be the fastest growing waste stream in the world. If, during a re-design, redundant or poorly performing equipment is identified, BT can help customers return it to vendors for recycling or re-use, with potential discounts applicable depending on the items and vendors. This improves the business case supporting customers’ circularity goals.

“With networks and digital assets spanning multiple sites globally, CIOs face unique challenges when attempting to deliver and measure sustainability improvements,” said Sarwar Khan, head of digital sustainability, Business, BT. “Our new proposition combines cutting-edge digital carbon measurement tools, expert network design services and a sustainable route for upgrading infrastructure. It empowers CIOs to demonstrate achievements and contribute measurably to their organisation’s net zero and circularity goals.”