• Affiniti provides IP communications network to reduce costs and increase productivity for PA Group
• New infrastructure will cover all PA Group sites including Westminster and the Old Bailey

Affiniti, the communications integrator created from the coming together of Kingston Communications Business Services, Omnetica and Technica, today announces it has secured a deal with PA Group, the UK's leading multimedia news and information provider and supplier of business-to-business media services. Affiniti will design and implement the IP communications network with a support contract over three years.

Steven Brown, PA Group Managing Director, said: "The IP network will improve communications between our journalists both in the UK and anywhere in the world. This will be a vital resource as the company continues to expand its worldwide network of journalists and offices. We selected Affiniti for this project because we were confident in its ability to deliver and manage the solution, and Affiniti displayed extensive knowledge of available products which enabled them to design the right solution for our business."�

The new IP Communications system will cover 17 sites including Westminster, the Old Bailey and bureaux in Dublin, Belfast and Glasgow and provide 1,400 users at PA Group with the ability to send voice, email, video and data over one network, boosting efficiency and productivity. Affiniti will implement IPCC and Call Manager as part of the IP-based network as well as providing ongoing maintenance and LAN support to all PA Group's sites.

Gary Young, Managing Director of Affiniti said: "We carried out extensive analysis of PA Group's requirements to provide a simple, effective solution that will deliver increased productivity and scalability. The implementation of an IP-based network will provide PA Group with increased capacity, combined with reduced cost and complexity as there will only be one network to manage."�

Affiniti, the communications integrator, specialises in designing, implementing and managing intelligent communications solutions for private and public sector organisations.

Some of its customers include: Experian, Carphone Warehouse, British Airways, Ford, Admiral Insurance, Edinburgh Telford College , Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen Hospital , Cheshire Police, Citigroup, Lloyds TSB.

Affiniti is part of the KCOM Group.

KCOM Group PLC provides a range of integrated IT and communications services to businesses, and internet and telecommunications services to selected consumer markets, within the UK .

The Group's portfolio of businesses works with both leading private enterprise customers and public sector organisations. Through its Affiniti, Smart421 and JAM IP brands, the Group delivers solutions covering unified communications, contact centre solutions, data management, applications integration and managed services.

The KCOM Group also includes a regionally-focused business, Kingston Communications, which supports small to medium-sized businesses. Through its KC and Eclipse brands, the business offers a wide range of internet-based and telecommunications services. The regional business also provides telephony and internet services to targeted consumers through its KC, Eclipse and Karoo brands.

The Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and employs over 2,700 people across the UK .

Kate Mills or Sally Robards
Kaizo
020 7580 8852
E: firstname.lastname@kaizo.net

Dianne White
Affiniti
01442 883370
E: Dianne.white@affiniti.com