Colt signs SAS as first UK franchise partner

Man signing a contract

Colt has signed its first UK franchise agreement with managed network and professional services provider SAS Global Communications (SAS).

The agreement enables SAS to move into the cloud services market, offering Colt Ceano’s portfolio of cloud-based services alongside its existing offerings, which includes professional services, network monitoring, and predictive helpdesk services.

The move forms a key part of SAS’ business strategy for the next three years, according to Charles Davis, CEO for SAS Global Communications.

He explains: “One of our goals is to develop new and distinct channels to market that will both complement existing partner relationships and enhance SAS’s overall value proposition for customers. By adding the Colt portfolio to our own, we increase the quality and diversity of managed services we are able to deliver to our customers.

“This builds on our strategy to move into the cloud services market and our recent acquisition of the software development company Trigger means that we have the skills and capability to take Colt Ceano to market.”

Colt launched Ceano in April to provide a suite of network, communications and cloud-based IT services to channel partners and currently has around 180 VARs. It has grown from Colt’s acquisition of ThinkGrid in 2012, which it bought to strengthen its channel-led cloud offering.

The firm has four indirect channels to market; agent, franchise, distributor and wholesale, which includes carriers, service providers, VARs and voice resellers. It says it is targeting a limited number of specialist VARs to join its franchise partner programme in each of its key European markets. It has already recruited partners in France, Spain, Germany and Belgium, which has extended the Colt brand across a wider network of VARs.

“Our new franchise channel allows us to tap into the agility, entrepreneurial spirit and local expertise of businesses like SAS,” comments Carol Alexander, franchise channel director, Colt.

“We have seen significantly increased demand for a range of IT managed services supported by robust voice and data connectivity from our channel partners, driven by their end customers. By offering our franchise partners the opportunity to sell these solutions under the Colt brand, it will accelerate the reach of our services in the market.”

Colt operates a 22-country, 44,000km network that includes metropolitan area networks in 39 major European cities with direct fibre connections into 19,000 buildings and 20 carrier neutral Colt datacentres.

ITPro

ITPro is a global business technology website providing the latest news, analysis, and business insight for IT decision-makers. Whether it's cyber security, cloud computing, IT infrastructure, or business strategy, we aim to equip leaders with the data they need to make informed IT investments.

For regular updates delivered to your inbox and social feeds, be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter and follow on us LinkedIn and Twitter.

Latest in Cloud
AI chatbot text dialogue boxes in difference colours above a digital circuit board with lines of light emanating from it
Enterprise AI is surging, but is security keeping up?
Oracle logo pictured in red lettering against a black background at the company's stall at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
Say goodbye to walled gardens, Oracle is doubling down on multi-cloud
A glowing blue CGI representation of a network solution provided via the IT channel.
Why understanding the customer’s network unlocks its value and your success
Cloud storage concept image showing digitized cloud symbol with data flows.
AI is putting your cloud workloads at risk
A CGI visualization of cloud computing, with an isometric view of a purple and blue cloud linked to seven glowing cube nodes, to represent devirtualization and revirtualization.
Navigating devirtualization as businesses move away from the cloud
Logo of Google Cloud, which recently announced the Wiz acquisition, pictured at Mobile World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain.
The Wiz acquisition stakes Google's claim as the go-to hyperscaler for cloud security – now it’s up to AWS and industry vendors to react
Latest in News
Ransomware concept image showing a warning symbol in red with binary code in background.
Healthcare systems are rife with exploits — and ransomware gangs have noticed
Application security concept image showing a digitized padlock placed upon a digital platform.
ESET looks to ‘empower’ partners with cybersecurity portfolio updates
Databricks logo and branding pictured on a MacBook Pro screen.
Databricks and Anthropic are teaming up on agentic AI development – here’s what it means for customers
Dell Technologies logo and branding pictured at the company's stall at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain.
Scale of Dell job cuts laid bare as firm sheds 10% of staff in a year
Male employee sitting at a desk working on a laptop with earphones in and books scattered on desk.
Employees want purpose, and they’re willing to quit to find it – upskilling, career growth, and work-life balance have shifted priorities for workers
NHS logo displayed on a smartphone screen in white lettering on a blue background.
NHS supplier hit with £3m fine for security failings that led to attack