Utrecht chooses Axians NaaS (Network as a Service)
The city of Utrecht has entrusted the construction and modernisation of its digital infrastructure to Axians Netherlands for a seven-year period. Thanks to NaaS (Network as a Service), the city is choosing an agile, adaptive and scalable network, with functionality available on a subscription basis.
Axians Netherlands will design the architecture, management and installation of Utrecht’s network based on the use of NaaS. Network as a Service offers a global network infrastructure solution and associated services on a subscription basis – the city will pay only for what it uses.
A reliable, agile network
Agility has become key to telecommunications networks. City council employees must be able to connect securely to their work network from wherever they are. By creating a virtual network, NaaS offers the City of Utrecht the ability to adapt the services on offer depending on its needs. It is therefore possible to increase or reduce bandwidth remotely, according to the number of employees present in their workplace.
“In choosing Axians, we are choosing a modern, stable and scalable network”,explains Ed van Rijckevorsel, City of Utrecht Connectivity and Data Centre Manager. “This new network gives us a solid base for the rollout of new digital services that will enable us to meet the wants and needs of residents, businesses, and our own organisation.”
New functionalities
Axians and the City of Utrecht are basing the new network on SDN (software-defined networks) technology, both for its office and its data centres. It brings new functionalities: localisation and monitoring of computing assets, data analysis, automation of some tasks, and improved cybersecurity.
“The next generation of networks is developing extremely quickly”,adds Hendrik Visser, NaaS Manager at Axians Netherlands. “Thanks to SDN, we are creating an agile digital platform, always fully updated, that will continue to meet the city’s needs and ambitions now and in the future.”
Quality of user experience
The project is labelled XLA® – Experience Level Agreement. Its aim is to guarantee the best possible user experience and network performance, and to make the service provided by Axians as transparent as possible. Indicators linked to IT services are monitored by Axians Netherlands teams and transmitted to the City of Utrecht.
To find out more about NaaS, read the Agility Effect article.