Recently designated as a specialist sports college, Oldbury College of Sport was formed from an amalgamation of two schools. Based in the West Midlands and operating over two sites, Oldbury College of Sports offers a first class teaching and learning environment to all its pupils.
The Challenge
Oldbury College wanted to consolidate their communications solutions and work with a single provider to manage all of their communications requirements (Mobile/Fixed Line/IT).
They required:
• a more stable mobile network in their chosen location (as they had problems with coverage on the Vodafone network)
• access between sites to reference the schools central management information system (SIMS)
• access to mobile internet and satellite navigation
• cost effectiveness and savings where possible
The Solution
After an initial review of their current mobile communications it was clear that Oldbury College were suited to the tariff they were currently on in terms of minutes and texts allowance. However coverage in their area was resulting in dropped calls and calls being missed. As an independent communications solutions company MoCo were able to search the market for a similar tariff offering on a different network. An analysis was made and it was decided that O2 had the best coverage and most suitable tariff for their requirements. The primary objective of the college was to enable data access between sites. Additional cost savings were achieved by not replacing all mobiles phones (as this was not needed or required), resulting in an increased budget for their IT requirements.
“The switch over was seamless with all staff keeping their existing mobile numbers with no downtime. “
Craig Morton – Assistant Head Teacher
Oldbury had previously been quoted a large sum of money to install a data pipe between the two sites to enable multi site access to the schools management information system (SIMS). Working with one of our IT partners, it was highlighted that this access could be achieved via a broadband connection, rather than a physical pipe having to be installed. MoCo were able to provide a broadband connection (with terminal server at their head office site) – to enable secure fast access at all sites – without the need for any physical equipment being installed.
Data allowance was also added to three of the mobile accounts to enable mobile internet access on the move.
“By extensively reviewing Oldbury's holistic communications requirements, we have enabled them to achieve another key strategic objective – data connectivity between their two sites”
Richard Dickety – MoCo Communications Consultant
Having multiple sites, it was an obvious choice to offer Olbury College a landline tariff which allows free of charge calls between sites. After analysing their bills to access the volume of calls between sites it was also highlighted that savings could be made on their standard line rental and call charges (both local and national).As well as the obvious benefit of cost savings, offering Oldbury College a landline solution met another of their objectives, one dedicated account manager for their mobile, landline, data and IT services.