With increased business competition, more and more companies are making the case for improved network connectivity for branch offices, retail outlets, and remote workers. Access requirements vary, but it's not uncommon for a single company to need a blend of services, including traditional high-speed access, such as T-1 and frame relay, broadband access, such as cable, DSL, and wireless, and conventional dial-up. The business case is often justified by the need to deploy new applications required to respond to new market requirements.

The analysis usually quantifies the benefits of the new applications, but financial projections often assume that broadband is ubiquitous, and the exact methods to be used for network deployments or upgrades are typically outside the scope of the analysis.

Once the business case is made, however, the IT department faces several key questions. Now that everyone has agreed that a new nationwide broadband network is the way to go, what's the best way to deploy that network? Is there a single provider with nationwide coverage who can handle every location? Who will manage and report on the deployment? How do I keep control of costs while the network is being deployed? The answers, at least at first glance, aren't encouraging. No single network provider can offer nationwide coverage, at least not without substituting higher-cost leased-line services in areas where broadband isn't available via their network. Management of network implementation is often more of an art than science, and as a result, the level of management reporting and cost control available is usually inadequate, to say the least.

An alternative to the usual carrier offering is for the enterprise to manage the implementation project internally. While a “Do-It-Yourself” approach may appear to make sense, it often undermines cost savings and creates an ongoing burden for personnel who have plenty of other high priority projects to complete.

Is there a way to combine the technical expertise of a carrier, with the flexibility of an out-source provider? Is there a service provider experienced enough to cost-effectively manage a complex network implementation, but flexible enough to provide the levels of coverage, reporting, and management oversight and responsiveness that a major network implementation demands? That's where CICAT comes in.

CICAT Is the Answer

CICAT is the trusted, independent single-source provider of telecommunications and network services to enterprises. The company's flexibility in tailoring solutions and services to the needs of its customers sets it apart from the competition.

By serving as a central clearinghouse for services from thousands of network operators, CICAT enables its customers to work with one partner, while paving the way for new broadband-enabled business applications, including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and other revenue-generating, productivity-enhancing applications.

When compared to single network solutions from typical network providers, CICAT's unique business model provides improvements of up to 50% in broadband coverage, reducing ongoing network costs by over 40% CICAT's winning formula is a combination of a flexible, network-neutral business model, proprietary online business management tools, and a business perspective focused on customer advocacy.