Our portfolio of services is grounded upon our breadth of ICT expertise and technical knowledge. That includes all aspects of fixed and mobile networks, and the systems and services that rely on them.

Organisations are increasingly reliant on mobile ICT services: public-safety organisations need highly available and secure radio networks to respond to incidents, while employees and consumers expect access to voice and data services wherever they are.

Mason provides industry-leading advice and assurance on the best choices for your organisation, based on many years of working with both legacy and leading-edge technologies. In addition to our core services, our wireless offering includes RF planning and spectrum planning.

Our expertise covers:

• mobile communications – 2G (GSM/GPRS), 3G (UMTS HSPA) and 4G (WiMAX, LTE)
• professional mobile radio for mission and business-critical applications (including TETRA)
• satellite communications
• microwave
• mobile carrier devices and applications
• mobile working (devices, data and workforce applications)
• remote control, telemetry, SCADA, and smart meters.

Mason also remains an active participant in a range of global industry bodies and standards forums, including ETSI and the TETRA + Critical Communications Association (TCCA).

Voice and data networks are the foundations on which any organisation’s ICT is built. In addition, most consumers take personal broadband connectivity for granted. We understand the challenges involved in transforming corporate networks for voice, data and unified solutions, and in developing next-generation connections for the wider public.

Mason offers pragmatic advice on procuring, implementing, migrating and maintaining these networks to ensure their performance matches user expectations.

Our expertise includes:

• voice services (IP telephony/VoIP, PBXs, and PSTN services) – we understand suppliers’ technical roadmaps from traditional PBX services to newer IP platforms, as well as offering insights on self-service versus hosted voice platforms, converged networks, and migration challenges
• Public Services Networks (PSN) – we are experts in collaborative network services
• collaboration and conferencing – we understand collaboration platforms, and can advise on the benefits of desktop audio and videoconferencing versus whole-room high-end solutions, as well as unified communications services such as presence and messaging
• network optimisation – we understand the techniques required to increase data transfer efficiencies across wide-area networks (WANs) and local-area networks (LANs)
• next-generation networks and broadband – as well as corporate networks, we are experts on national and regional next-generation access issues and fibre-optic networks.

Our control room and contact centre expertise covers both the public and private sectors. We have an unparalleled understanding of the public-safety sector for both emergency (112/999) and non-emergency calls, and we understand the issues associated with command-and-control systems and their integration with radio technologies. In the private sector, our expertise includes the migration to IP platforms, and the adoption of multi-channel contacts, including voice, email and messaging.

Our expertise includes:

• voice and message recording
• interactive voice response (IVR)
• automatic call distribution (ACD)
• command-and-control and computer-aided dispatch (CAD)
• integrated communication control systems (ICCS)
• graphical information systems (GIS)
• automatic vehicle/resource location systems (AVLS/ARLS).

As well as our expertise in the technologies that underpin control rooms and contact centres, Mason understands the processes that support call handlers – essential to ensuring efficient and effective operations.  

Cloud computing is a recent trend and is being adopted by organisations that are seeking a cost-effective platform. There are numerous choices for restructuring IT services, and virtualisation can be achieved at different levels within an organisation.

Migrating to a cloud solution is a strategic choice that may require considerable work, including moving legacy data and applications.

Our expertise includes

• data centre infrastructure (security, resilience, power, cooling, capacity, layout and network services)
• data centre optimisation (computing efficiency, storage, sustainability, platform virtualisation)
• data centre migration planning and operational management systems
• cloud computing services (public, private and hybrid)
• data and application migration.

Cloud computing and associated data centre solutions can reduce total cost of ownership, increase agility and improve service delivery. But with the benefits of off-site IT solutions, come concerns regarding access, security and data governance – we’ll help you assess the options and manage the risks.

The last few years have seen a radical transformation in desktop services. The market is dominated by cheap, powerful and capable tablet and smartphone computers that are marketed to consumers rather than businesses, with an increased adoption of virtual desktops. Virtualisation offers significant benefits, but can be challenging, as legacy applications may need significant rework.

Mason views desktop as part of the overall delivery mechanism for applications, including the network and hosting services, ensuring all applications are provided with the level of service necessary to ensure optimum business delivery.

Our expertise includes:

• mobility solutions, including access devices, security, and enabling systems and networks
• virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) and thin client, including understanding the business case for virtualisation of servers and desktops, and issues around service delivery, sustainability and management overhead
• convergent applications and integration, including how communications services such as voice, video and collaboration can be delivered, and integration opportunities for email, the Web and the desktop.

Security issues can have a significant impact on both the public sector and enterprises. Breaches can result in financial loss, reputational damage and operational downtime. Customers and clients need assurance of system security, regulatory compliance and good governance.

Mason helps our clients to manage risk and to deliver effective and efficient ICT services.

Our consultants have extensive knowledge of UK government policy and legislative changes, and are able to draw on practical experience to help clients protect critical information assets through the delivery of accreditation services, risk assessments, and audits.

Our expertise includes:

• network and system security
• disaster recovery and business continuity
• security risk management
• regulatory and standards compliance and accreditation (including RMADS).