You can expect more acquisitions from us - Solar CEO

Comms VAR acquires Response Data Communication as part of its managed services drive

Solar Communications expects to make further acquisitions as it continues its transition to a complete managed service provider, according to CEO John Whitty.

Whitty was speaking to CRN after Solar acquired Essex-based service provider Response Data Communication (RDC) for an undisclosed fee.

"As and when capability becomes available to acquire then you will see Solar make further acquisitions in order to address the opportunity in the converged space," Whitty said.

"For the past 12 months Solar has been looking at how we can transform ourselves from what is a very successful telephone systems integrator and reseller into being a complete managed service provider, addressing the small and mid-sized market.

"Between our chairman, our sales director and me, we've probably done 100 acquisitions together, so we've got experience in doing this kind of project."

Solar acquired RDC following Whitty's pledge last year to take the firm's managed services offering to "the next level".

RDC has traditionally worked "in the heart of the network infrastructure", managing director Jason Evans explained, but the firm started to develop an expertise in voice around a decade ago.

"It was taken from the perspecitive that voice was going to become an application on the data network and because of our heritage in the network infrastructure we took to voice really easily and that gave us an advantage over traditional voice players," Evans said.

"We have probably been a lot more focused on the engineering side of things than the sales side.

"The coming together of the two organisations - bringing together the engineering expertise of RDC alongside the outstanding sales team that Solar has - I think poses an incredible proposition for the marketplace."

Whitty added that RDC's capabilities will allow Solar to address the higher end of the market and will give them the skills to offer more IT products.

Solar also claimed the deal has seen it crowned ShoreTel's first Platinum-approved partner in Europe.

The RDC name will remain for now, as a member of the Solar group of companies, but Whitty said this decision will be re-assessed at a later date.