Onyx Group named on prestigious telecommunications framework

Data Centre and IT Infrastructure specialists Onyx Group has been awarded a place on the telecommunications framework, a service from Jisc, to supply IT connectivity solutions for the UK education and research sector.
The announcement comes just weeks after the company was confirmed as official Cloud Computing suppliers to the UK public sector through the G-Cloud 5 framework.

As experts in the connectivity field, Onyx Group was one of the first providers of business-to-business broadband in the UK upon their inception back in 1994.

Onyx already possess’ a rich portfolio of higher education clients, such as Heriot Watt and Newcastle University, and are looking to expand further into the market by making their services available via the framework.

As one of only 18 companies approved by the framework in the UK, Onyx Group will now be able to offer education bodies a range of connectivity solutions in a simplified and more cost-effective way.

Procured on behalf of UK education and research, companies are now able to purchase a range of connectivity services from Onyx via the framework without having to go through the lengthy procurement process.

Onyx Group employs more than 120 staff across the country from ten sites and offices, including in Rotherham.

Neil Stephenson, chief executive at Onyx Group, said: “Being awarded a place on the framework is testament to the high quality service delivered by our team over the last two decades.

“With our network ranked in the top one per cent of connected networks worldwide and powering our robust wholly-owned national infrastructure, we are perfectly placed to provide education bodies with a resilient and secure solution.”

The telecommunications framework agreement enables the purchase of transmission services including leased circuits, wide area Ethernet and xDSL. Billed under Managed Transmission, the framework may be used by higher and further education purchasing consortia, specialist colleges and research council establishments in the UK.

“Onyx Group is committed to helping research and education bodies benefit from high speed, reliable internet connectivity and the framework makes it possible for us to offer these solutions in a faster and more cost-effective manner,” continued Stephenson.

“Having passed the tough and rigorous assessment process carried out by Jisc, institutions can purchase services confident that they are working with the very best.”

Steve Kennett, head of operational services, Janet: a part of Jisc, said: “The partnership between Onyx and Jisc will continue to support our vision for the UK to be the most digitally advanced education and research nation in the world. Working with trusted partners like Onyx ensures Jisc maintains value and quality for our sector.”