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The Shard is Accredited as One of the Best Buildings in the UK for Connectivity
The Shard has been certified as one of the best buildings in the country for broadband and infrastructure after it was awarded a platinum rating by WiredScore.
- The Shard has achieved Platinum accreditation, the highest rating awarded by international commercial connectivity accreditor, WiredScore.
- The Shard’s dedication to offering exceptional technology infrastructure has been instrumental in attracting and supporting its 29 diverse occupiers.
- Occupiers especially reliant on the building’s best-in-class broadband and telecoms infrastructure include digitally-focused companies Protiviti, Leonteq Securities, MATCHESFASHION.COM, Dods and Jellyfish.
The Shard has been certified as one of the best buildings in the country for broadband and telecoms infrastructure after it was awarded a Platinum rating – the highest possible level – by international connectivity accreditor WiredScore.
Connectivity is a critical concern for businesses competing on the global market and has a direct impact on business growth because it effects the productivity of employees and overall efficiency. As a result, The Shard’s Platinum-level connectivity is a significant benefit to its 29 existing occupiers and the rating is an independent endorsement for businesses looking for suitable office space.
The iconic vertical city is currently home to a diverse range of companies – from investment technology business Leonteq Securities to global consulting firm Protiviti – that all rely on the building’s exceptional connectivity to support their high operating speed. In 2016 The Shard signed three new occupiers that are significant contributors to the UK’s growing digital economy and also depend on the building’s superior technology infrastructure – the online retailer MATCHESFASHION.COM; digital marketing agency Jellyfish; and digital media and print publisher Dods.
Sam LoweExcellent connectivity is the lifeblood of modern, global, digital leaders like MATCHESFASHION.COM. London is one of the digital hubs of the world, but there is great variance in the connectivity available, and so it was one of our key criteria when selecting new facilities to support the growth of our business to select somewhere that had great digital infrastructure as well as great physical facilities.
Chief Technology Officer, MATCHESFASHION.COM
The digital infrastructure of a building is equally important as the physical location of the building. Connectivity is vital for all businesses at all stages of growth, in any geographical location and industry. However, being technologically advanced is no longer a competitive advantage in itself; rather it is the speed and resilience of your technology infrastructure that ensures the effective delivery for your clients and colleagues internationally at mission critical moments. We are a young fast-paced organisation and as we continue to grow and develop, an advanced yet resilient digital infrastructure will be an important pillar in our continued success.Peter RichardsonHead of UK Operations, Protiviti
Wired Certification is a trusted mark for the buildings that are independently certified as providing leading-edge digital infrastructure. This provides greater transparency for occupiers to help them make an informed decision before signing a lease, and provides landlords with the necessary insights to improve their buildings’ connectivity standards.
The Shard secured its rating by providing a wide variety of high speed internet services, best-in-class levels of resiliency and robust emergency back-up services to protect against service disruption. The building has seven unique sources of fibre, which gives occupiers a wide variety of high speed internet services. This includes dedicated business-grade fibre offerings that can be used for symmetrical speeds of up to 100Gbps depending on the occupier’s requirements.
From an infrastructure perspective, the building contains best-in-class levels of redundancy and resiliency. To futureproof against demands to accommodate new carriers, The Shard has been fitted with two universal communications chambers that can be accessed by carriers to reduce the level of infrastructure civil works required during fit-out. The building’s two fully diverse risers, that contain blown fibre tubing at each level, are also accessible via these communications chambers.
Resilience and connectivity used to be solely the domain of a company’s CTO or IT director, but in today’s increasingly digital world it affects every employee from the sales team to the CEO. We understand the importance of good technology infrastructure for our occupiers and have worked hard to ensure we are providing numerous, diverse supplies. The Shard’s Platinum Certification provides an important seal of approval for businesses looking for resilient and connected office space in London. Achieving WiredScore’s highest certification underscores our commitment to the needs of our occupiers.Michael BakerCEO of REM, which manages The Shard
The Shard is an iconic building, serving a vast community of international businesses, and deserves the world-class connectivity standards to match. Achieving Platinum status means that occupiers have access to the very latest technology and telecommunications infrastructure, enabling them to compete in the global, digital economy and drive growth. This accreditation sends a signal to entrepreneurs and ambitious businesses that The Shard is a fully optimised building, future-proofed for success and innovation.William NewtonUK Director, WiredScore
