Colt's Optimum Managed Networking service will underpin Fidessa's plans to transform the way its employees work together across four continents, and ensure that IT can support new ways of doing business. Based on Colt's Ethernet Private Network services, the network solution has been designed to support enhanced employee collaboration through the use of tools such as video conferencing, and to meet the business demands created by the company's continued growth.

Colt has provided network connectivity between Fidessa and its financial services clients in the UK since 2001. This new solution, a fully managed networking service, will replace Fidessa's existing corporate network and seamlessly connect Fidessa employees in the UK, US, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and Australia. The highly resilient network will also allow Fidessa to implement a number of resource-heavy applications such as SAP, while ensuring a consistently high user experience across its global offices.

Fidessa is known across the financial services industry as a provider of multi-asset trading and investment infrastructure, market data and analysis, decision making and workflow technology. Each year, transactions worth $10 trillion flow across its global network.

David Awcock, IT Services Director, Fidessa, said, "When it came to reviewing the options for our corporate network, we spoke to a number of service providers. We were particularly impressed by Colt's professional approach and in-depth understanding of our business requirements. The time that Colt invested in working closely with our team, not only in designing a technology solution with a flexible approach but also in defining the required service levels and pricing, was an important factor in our selection."

David Awcock continued: "We've set the industry benchmark with our unrivalled set of mission-critical products and services for the financial community. It is important that our chosen service provider suppopports our consistently high levels of service to markets across the globe. The way that Colt approached the relationship, together with its ability to provide a managed service that follows us across the globe, tipped the balance in Colt's favour."

Simon Walsh, EVP, Colt, said, "Our enterprise class managed networking services, underpinned by our award-winning Ethernet network, will provide a consistent experience for Fidessa employees across four continents, optimising performance, reducing costs and making it easier for Fidessa to do business. The combination of Colt's service management approach and our support team, acting as an extension of Fidessa's IT team, allows Fidessa to scale rapidly and flexibly with absolute confidence. This enables the IT department to focus on business growth and new initiatives."

Colt's Managed Networking is just one of Colt's Optimum services which are differentiated through their unique combination of network reach, integrated technology, service management and commercial flexibility. Colt Optimum is the name of the direct-to-enterprise portfolio covering IT, Network and Communication Services.