MEET THE ICT TEAM

BOB MPAGI

Bob Mpagi
Solutions Consultant

I’ve been in IT for 18 years, starting out at Virgin Media as a network field installation engineer. My role involved working with PSTN lines to set up broadband services for homes and offices. I later joined Matrix Communications, which eventually became part of Redcentric after a series of acquisitions. Over the years, I’ve moved through various technical support roles, from Level 1 to Level 3 helpdesk support assisting customers with connectivity issues. I gained experience with technologies from Cisco, Ruckus, Juniper, and others. Today, I’m a solutions consultant, combining my technical expertise with customer engagement to design and deliver bespoke network solutions.

 

 

As a solutions consultant, I work in the ICT team designing and installing a wide range of network solutions. This includes everything from local area networks (LAN) and wireless LANs to wide area networks (WAN). My customers come from diverse sectors, including education, healthcare, local government, housing associations, and private businesses.

 

My job is hands-on, which means I work closely with customers to understand their challenges and goals, translate these into technical requirements, and collaborate with our architects to create the best solution. Once we’ve got the design, I oversee its deployment and ensure that both our internal teams and the customer have the knowledge they need to manage it going forward.

 

The goal is always to solve customer challenges in a way that empowers them. Each solution is designed to make life easier for the customer, whether through cost savings, improved visibility, or enhanced efficiency.

Healthcare organisation

One of our customers in the healthcare sector faced significant challenges with their network. They were relying on multiple connectivity types, including IPsec VPNs, to connect smaller hospitals and remote sites to their central facilities. This setup was not scalable, expensive, and prone to throughput issues.

Their contract with their previous provider was coming to an end, so we stepped in to deliver an SD-WAN solution with Fortinet firewalls. This provided a centralised network with better visibility and simplified design. The solution allows them to consolidate various connectivity types including leased lines for larger hospitals and broadband for smaller sites into a single cohesive system. We also migrated their HSCN connections to Redcentric’s infrastructure and are currently upgrading their guest wireless system. This transformation has not only created cost savings and improved performance but has also made it easier for its internal IT teams to manage the network effectively.

Charitable organisation

A large charity operating multiple sites needed an upgrade to their ageing wireless network. Their previous system, based on outdated Aruba hardware, lacked visibility into network performance and required frequent calls to our support desk for troubleshooting. This led to delays in resolving issues and increased operational complexity.

We designed and deployed a Meraki cloud-managed wireless LAN across their network, starting with one site and gradually rolling out to 36 locations. The new system includes separate wireless networks for staff and guests, enabling seamless operations without the need for extensive cabling. The Meraki dashboard gives them unprecedented visibility into their network, allowing them to identify and resolve issues quickly. By simplifying deployment with templates, we’ve also made the rollout faster and more cost-effective for the customer.

Local government organisation

For a local government customer, which acts as an umbrella organisation managing operations across five critical sites including councils and other public services organisations, we recently completed a network transformation project. This organisation oversees a wide range of public services, including transport, emergency response, and administrative operations, so reliable connectivity is vital.

Its existing network was outdated, and we implemented a Meraki cloud solution for both LAN and wireless connectivity which included Fortinet firewalls in two data centres. The solution covered all sites such as their headquarters, emergency services, and the data centres. The new network ensures seamless connectivity for their day-to-day operations and provides a robust platform for future growth. The customer has been very happy with the solution, praising its reliability and ease of management.

I enjoy working with customers to understand their goals and challenges. Whether it’s simplifying a network, improving performance, or enabling future growth, it’s rewarding to deliver solutions that truly make a difference. Working with a range of organisations keeps the job exciting, and I’m proud of the positive impact our solutions have on their operations.

Click into some of our key team members to find out more about them

Laurence Bichener

Head of ICT Sales

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Stephen Rees

ICT Service Director

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redcentric

Redcentric

0800 983 2522 sayhello@redcentricplc.com