O2 promotes Azzurri to top table

VAR becomes the third in the UK to gain top level accreditation

Azzurri has become the third UK reseller to gain O2’s Data Centre of Excellence accreditation, netting it access to a raft of extra support from the operator.

The integrator joins Handheld PCs and Alternative Networks at O2’s top table after passing pre-set targets on data connections, average revenue per user and retention performance.

Azzurri is already O2’s strongest performing partner in the Southern region in SME and data connections.

The Data Centre of Excellence programme, which was launched in January to help O2 grow its mobile data footprint, will hand Azzurri access to marketing and customer support, O2 endorsement and help with recruitment.

The qualification will also net Azzurri extra help in training, dedicated pre-sales data consultants, trial and loan of devices and access to events.

Ben Dowd, general manager of business sales, O2 UK, said in a statement: “Azzurri has proven itself as a very strong partner for O2 across the board, and in particular in data sales.

“Being selected for both O2 Advance and the O2 Centre of Excellence is an excellent endorsement of Azzurri’s ability to meet the needs of our business customers.”

Simon Price, mobile sales director at Azzurri, said: “We are delighted to be the first independent to be appointed to both O2 Advance and the O2 Data Centre of Excellence.

“Having re-focused our sales team to be more data-centric, we are now witnessing the results with excellent penetration of data services to new customers, as well as our existing customer base.”