Cable operator Virgin Media Business (Liberty Global) has for the first time allowed its 50Mbps to 300Mbps broadband and phone packages, which are aimed at small businesses, to be resold through third party providers via their indirect partner channel.
The first two providers to make use of this new flexibility are Daisy Distribution and DMSL UK, although at least in the latter case the Virgin Media Business branding of related products remains firmly intact. However VMB doesn’t intend to stop at just two partners and they aim to recruit 500 more by the end of 2016.
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Apparently those partners who are selected to resell VMB’s broadband packages will undergo in-depth training, gain access to sales and marketing toolkits, be supported by a dedicated indirect partner team within VMB and also be eligible for up to £315 up-front commission per installation.
Mike Smith, Director of Small Business at VMB, said:
“I’m thrilled we’ve teamed up with DMSL UK and Daisy Distribution, and hopefully hundreds more partners throughout the year, to sell our market-leading portfolio. Our ultrafast business broadband bundles – with speeds up to four times faster than BT – can help businesses do so much more. Our new indirect partner sales channel, complementing our desk-based team, will allow us to sell more and better service the UK small business community that we know are crying out for a faster internet connection to help them to reach their digital potential.”
John Carter, Managing Director of DMSL, said:
“We’re very excited about our partnership with Virgin Media Business. We have already started recruiting resellers for Virgin Media’s ultrafast business broadband and the response we’ve seen so far has been really encouraging. Partners and end-users know and trust the Virgin brand, so there’s an immediate and easily accessible opportunity in the market.”
Admittedly this is still a very long way from being a wholesale arrangement, which is something that ISPs have been wishing for since the dawn of broadband in the UK, and as such its appeal to mainstream providers may be limited. Never the less it’s an interesting development and perhaps shows that Virgin are seeking to expand their appeal, albeit without losing control over their products. But for now it’s only a business focused proposition.
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