Siemens Plc has launched Siemens Network Systems Ltd, comprising Siemens’ Corporate Network group and communications systems integrator ACT Cablestream, acquired by Siemens in January for #4.5m. This is parallel to the consolidation of Siemens’ global networking activities, previously carried out by its Public Communications Networks, Private Communications Systems and Siemens Nixdorf Information Systems businesses, to form the new Siemens Network Systems Special Division on 1st April 1994. Headquartered in Hemel Hempstead, with offices in Manchester and Sunbury-on-Thames, Siemens Network Systems Ltd, will target networking for UK customers. It has 110 employees, and expects a turnover of approximately #20m in the current fiscal year. The company designs and integrates network systems, offering consultancy, project management, installation and support. As to the thorny question of big brother influence, Phil Tizzard, managing director of Siemens Plessey Controls Ltd, was adamant that vendor-independence will be maintained and no existing supplier relationship will be damaged. Tizzard believes the network market is growing at about 15% a year in the UK, and hopes the company’s market share will grow to 10% by 1997, for some #50m annual turnover – it is planning 25% growth for the next fiscal year. He sees the fastest growth for networking in ‘enterprise networks’ – linking local networks into wide area networks – and the emerging technology of Asynchronous Transfer Mode.
