Brought to you by SPTel
At a time when network resilience is crucial to any business continuity effort, one challenge that many enterprises face in Singapore is the lack of an alternative diverse network to link up their offices, factories, retail outlets, suppliers and staff.
Speak about network diversity in Singapore and the idea that often comes to mind for enterprises is signing up with multiple service providers to avoid a single point of failure. However, this could be a flawed strategy.
While there are a number of service providers in Singapore, they still have to rely on shared infrastructure that was set up to connect homes, schools and businesses more than a decade ago.
In reality, many enterprises do not have the network resiliency that is critical to today’s data-driven world. The only way is to connect to an alternative network that is just as reliable and secure.
There is now an alternative in the form of SPTel’s business class digital network, which uses unique fibre pathways that combine leased SP Group infrastructure and owned fibre pipes, laid alongside the power network cables.
Building on decades of experience offering dark fibre services, SPTel has engineered a state-of-the-art fibre network that can surpass what enterprises already connect to today.
Available island-wide, this network has been further enhanced in June this year to deliver a full suite of connectivity and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services, ranging from local and international networks to Cyber Security, IoT and Managed Services, all via an end-to-end software defined network.
This alternative network, purpose-built for enterprises seeking to digitalise their business, is a first in Singapore to employ such cutting-edge technology in the delivery of ICT services.
SPTel, a joint venture between ST Engineering and SP Group, built this network from the ground up, mindful of the digital needs of enterprises, such as the transformation of their network infrastructure.
A real alternative for resiliency
Taking the path less travelled, SPTel’s network will enable businesses to avoid disruptions that occur because of incidents on the shared infrastructure that other service providers rely on.
These could include common construction and road works, or equipment failure in a building’s main distribution frame (MDF) room. For anyone who has used fibre broadband here, these disruptions are not unusual.
SPTel provides unique fibre pathways that are physically separate from the shared infrastructure. In addition, its fibre cables pass through owned properties instead of third-party properties for greater control and physical security.
In buildings connected by SPTel, the fibre connects through the switch room instead of the usual MDF room. Even if an unexpected incident, such as a fire, occurs at the MDF room, SPTel’s link keeps an enterprise connected.
These connected buildings also enjoy exchange diversity by default , so there is additional resiliency included, subject to availability. With this, enterprises can benefit from automatic failover, supported by SPTel’s Software Defined Network (SDN) capabilities, should one connection be disrupted.
A business class network
It’s important to note that SPTel’s network isn’t just more of the same traditional networks that telecom operators have been rolling out for decades.
Besides being highly resilient, SPTel’s network also offers the flexibility, performance and security that enterprise expect today, especially with the rapid digitalisation of their businesses.
SPTel’s Software-Defined Network (SDN) optimises the network routing, enables fast provisioning of services and dynamic scaling of bandwidth to meet customer needs while providing a smarter, digital experience.
When this is available in September, customers can gain visibility, control, scalability and security over their entire network from the convenience of a single customer portal that they can access anywhere, anytime.
Performance matters, as well. For enterprises running Internet of Things (IoT), SPTel’s 2-tier network infrastructure offers ultra-low latency to quickly connect their sensors in the field with compute resources on the edge of the network. This is because there are fewer hops involved in a 2-tier network structure.
At the same time, SPTel’s network is built solely for enterprises, so there is no consumer traffic transiting through the network. Enterprises will not experience any congestion even during busy periods.
Finally, SPTel also offers highly secure infrastructure, because its fibre optic cables terminate in secure facilities and are monitored 24/7 by an Integrated Operations Centre (IOC) that combines network monitoring with Security Operations Monitoring (SOC) by ST Engineering, which has extensive experience in designing and building Security Operations Centres for customers around the world and across different sectors.
These are attributes that would benefit any enterprise seeking to be agile, to boost their readiness for a future where customers are won or lost in real time.
A scalable, resilient, secure and high-performance network that forms the backbone of an enterprise’s digital efforts will be key to its success in the new normal.
This is the first of a four-part series examining how SPTel’s intelligent network can deliver business-class connectivity to enterprises in Singapore. Discover how SPTel’s new network can support resilient connectivity in your enterprise here or find out more by signing up for complimentary webinars at SPTel’s Virtual Event: Digitalisation with an Edge here.
This is the first of a four-part series examining how SPTel’s intelligent network can deliver business-class connectivity to enterprises in Singapore. Discover how SPTel’s new network can support resilient connectivity in your enterprise here or find out more by signing up for complimentary webinars at SPTel’s Virtual Event: Digitalisation with an Edge here.
