Comtek offers Nortel 'rescue' package
Comtek, a pan-European provider of IT and telecoms infrastructure repair services, has announced the launch of a new programme designed to aid and support existing Nortel customers in the wake of the global communications provider's high-profile financial difficulties.
Comtek's ‘Nortel Customer Rescue Programme' will offer a repair service for any legacy and end-of-life Nortel equipment that faces reduced or withdrawn technical support, including Nortel's enterprise product portfolio as well as its transmission products for backbone networks, which are used by carriers across the world.
Nortel has struggled to maintain profitability in the past decade, and filed for creditor protection on January 14th 2009. It has already sold its Alteon switch business to Radware, and - most recently - has proposed the sale of both its enterprise unit to Avaya and its wireless assets to Ericsson. Nortel is also looking for a buyer for its remaining metro ethernet unit.
Consequently, it is unclear how long both current and discontinued Nortel product lines will be supported, particularly as sales of the company's assets conclude. Furthermore, replacing one piece of faulty equipment can often have a knock-on effect for the rest of the network, meaning some companies could face the prospect of having to rip out and replace entire infrastructures, in the event of problems with Nortel equipment.
However, with Europe's largest multi-vendor IT hardware repair centres, and more than 40 engineers located across the continent, Comtek has the ability and expertise to repair both legacy and current Nortel equipment to an extremely high standard, quickly and with minimal disruption to customer networks, providing a low-cost alternative to purchasing new equipment.
"Nortel's problems have been well-documented, but as it sells off its remaining assets, many customers could be left staring into the abyss, as the products they rely on for their core business operations may no longer be supported," said Askar Sheibani, CEO of Comtek. "Multiple global infrastructures are based on Nortel equipment, and we've already had enquiries from major carriers asking if we can repair and support these legacy systems. We're launching the Nortel Customer Rescue Programme with this in mind - reaching out to the many companies that see the genuine value in continuing to use Nortel equipment in these tough economic times, rather than embarking on expensive and unnecessary upgrade projects."
Many companies have traditionally opted against infrastructure repair, either through a lack of viable repair options, or due to the social stigma surrounding repaired products. However, in the wake of the global recession and the cost-cutting pressures facing businesses, there is growing recognition that repairing rather than replacing IT and telecoms infrastructure can greatly extend the life of existing technology and legacy systems, saving time, money and the environment. Furthermore, the warranty periods offered by Comtek on many of its repaired products significantly exceed those of new purchases, without forcing companies to enter lengthy and expensive support contracts.
"Repairing products shouldn't be viewed as an inferior option to upgrading," continued Sheibani. "The fact is that if a piece of IT or telecoms equipment serves a particular function well, there is no need to replace it on the first occasion that it breaks down. It's more convenient and substantially cheaper to avoid replacing equipment unless there is a legitimate business need for doing so, and usually the only problem for companies is finding a qualified pair of hands to restore the equipment to working order - that's where Comtek comes in."
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