Netgear signs CMS deal for Irish growth
Networking vendor pens distribution agreement with storage distributor
Networking vendor Netgear has increased its presence in Ireland by signing a distribution agreement with CMS Peripherals.
The storage distributor will provide Netgear’s range of home and business networking products. The product range on offer through CMS will include Ethernet and Gigabit switches, access points, wireless network adaptor cards, and wired and wireless routers.
Mark Power, country manager for UK and Ireland at Netgear, told CRN: “Wireless and broadband hasn’t really taken off in Ireland. There is a huge opportunity in the Irish market. We hope to sign 150 Irish resellers by the end of the year.”
Power said Netgear had originally worked with Irish distributor Sharptext, but the relationship had failed to work out. “Sharptext was focused on Cisco, so we did not get the focus we needed,” he said. “We started using TNS Distribution as a local Irish distributor. Two distributors is right for the Irish market, but we may look for some sub-distributors.”
Power added that about one per cent of Netgear’s UK and Ireland business is from the Irish market, a figure he hopes will rise to up to five per cent.
Kevin O’Malley, marketing manager at CMS Peripherals, said: “We come from a storage background, but are looking to diversify our portfolio so we’re not seen as just a storage distributor. We want partners where we can add value.
“The whole networking arena has a lot of opportunity. Netgear has a strong brand and a product set targeted at business users and consumers.”
Lee Marsden, sales manager at rival networking vendor ZyXEL, said: “We have a distribution agreement with Topsec Technology in Ireland. The Irish market is seeing growth and is a good part of our business.
“Netgear is a rival to us, but the CMS Peripherals signing will not alter our plans.”