A private company known for their innovations in the telecommunication and connectivity world, ICUK is a powerful ISP for the UK consumer base, with more than 800 resellers and partners, as well as tens of thousands of satisfied end customers. Based in South London, ICUK offer domain registration services, shared hosting, broadband services, and white label solutions for resellers and partners.
Since their initiation in 2001, ICUK has been working on a way to make expanding on the UK internet framework easier for partners and customers. The recent release of their new Openreach infrastructure mapping tool could allow them to do just that, by providing access to in-depth information about Openreach ducts and fibre installations. Trials of the new software have already shown it's potential for success, as the system delivers a whole new dimension to leased line delivery and quoting.
We spoke to Paul Barnett, the founding director of ICUK, to find out more about the new application, and where the company is planning to go next.
Tell us about ICUK
ICUK started sixteen years ago in 2001, with the decision to develop a unique ISP, rather than using one of the pre-existing segments in the marketplace. Paul told me that the decision to write their own software has been difficult for their company, but it's also been a positive move on their behalf. "We're debt-free, we're profitable, and we're in a good place."
ICUK's portfolio works around one huge central portal. They started out with a web hosting service, then moved on to deliver Linux and Windows shared hosting, before following up with an expansion to offer broadband, telecoms, and more. Now, ICUK is directly integrated with Openreach for WLR3, and they offer their customers access to a range of simplified solutions through a unique, and easy-to-use single portal.
"When you're managing web hosting, it looks and feels just the same as if you were managing broadband or telecoms. We've also got a customer control panel feature available. That means that our resellers can rebrand their version of the portal for their customer so that the people at the end of the line can see and interact with the services that they've purchased. This takes some of the weight off reseller shoulders because customers can do things for themselves."
What Prompted You to Start the Openreach Mapping Project?
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Infrastructure Mapping via ICUK[/caption]
As Paul admitted to me himself, the Openreach map isn't an entirely new concept. There's a map available in the Openreach system if you're willing to dig deep enough yourself. The problem is, it comes with several limitations that make it difficult for any average company to use.
"You're restricted on how far you can zoom in, and there's nothing there in the way of satellite or street views. The whole thing feels very old when you're using it, without any place names, or company names."
"We decided to use the data that was already available, and convert it into something that can be used with Google, so that you can go into street view, walk down the street, and see an infrastructure for yourself."
According to Paul, ICUK customers are using the mapping tool to make decisions about whether to lease a line or buy a property based on their ability to see the internet framework that exists in any given area. For ICUK, it's just the beginning of what could be possible.
The ICUK Team[/caption]
