Avant, ISG to Meet 5G, SDN Challenges

Avant Communications‘ partnership with Information Services Group (ISG) will help ISG launch a new network services offering.

The new service, ISG Network Select, enhances the advisory firm’s network strategy and design service. Avant and ISG said Thursday that Network Select “strengthens ISG’s ability to help clients design, source, configure, deploy, secure and manage their network technology.”

ISG’s Michael Connors

Those technologies include SD-WAN, call center as a service and 5G mobility. ISG CEO Michael Connors said the amount of connected devices worldwide is moving toward $30 billion, prompting “an unprecedented transformation” for networking.

“Client demand for networks that are secure, interconnected, interoperable and profitable is rising, as are concerns over security, scale, cost and the complexity of the expanding IoT landscape,” Connors said in an announcement. “ISG Network Select is designed to help clients find the best solutions, faster, to power their digital transformation initiatives.”

Avant, a Chicago-based master agent, will contribute market research, engineering resources and other tools to the partnership. ISG customers also can access Avant’s 100-plus cloud solution providers and 60-plus carriers. The companies will collaborate in what Connors called a win-win. He said ISG will increase its networking provider community and create new revenue streams.

“ISG Network Select clients will realize better overall pricing and selection from vendors in the Avant ecosystem, and ISG in turn will realize a continuous stream of recurring revenues from the multiyear contracts our clients sign with network vendors,” Connors said.

ISG maintains relationships with approximately 700 “blue-chip” business customers, according to Avant CEO Ian Kieninger.

Avant’s Ian Kieninger

“We are delighted to partner with this industry leader and look forward to combining our resources and relationships to deliver the most advanced cloud, colocation and connectivity solutions to ISG clients,” Kieninger said.

ISG now has a promising opportunity to migrate clients from legacy carriers to next-generation providers, according to Dieter Thompson, president of ISG networking and software advisory services. For example, Thompson noted that while 90% of his clients are running SD-WAN tests, just 15% of the customer base has adopted the technology.

“Most of our clients are looking for a technology refresh, to modernize their network so it can fully and securely support the digital transformation programs of their enterprises and have the flexibility to meet future needs, he said. “The opportunity to help them accelerate their progress and build a modern, future-proof network is enormous.”

Avant last month hosted its Special Forces Summit, where it unveiled a major update to its its tech solutions mobile application.