Commercis Announce Partnership with Hornetsecurity to Enhance Cyber Protection

Commercis Plc, a leading provider of connectivity, cybersecurity, and innovative IT solutions, is delighted to announce a strategic partnership between Commercis Technology and Hornetsecurity in the United Kingdom, a premier provider of cloud-based security, compliance, backup and security awareness solutions specifically aimed at Microsoft 365 users. This collaboration aims to strengthen cybersecurity measures, providing robust defences against email-based threats.

By partnering with Hornetsecurity, Commercis will integrate advanced protection solutions into its service offerings, including multi-level filtering, AI-based threat detection, and robust backup solutions, empowering customers to safeguard their sensitive data and maintain business continuity.

Email remains one of the most vulnerable entry points for cyberattacks in today's digital landscape, with approximately thirty-three thousand new email-based threats a day*. According to Deloitte, 91% of cyber-attacks start with an email**. Therefore, the automated security awareness training service embedded in the fabric of the Hornetsecurity platform will help organisations and their workforce be a step ahead of cyber attackers, able to identify and act on them more effectively.

"We are excited to partner with Hornetsecurity to enhance further our cybersecurity capabilities

Vipul Narula, CEO at Commercis Technology

"We are excited to partner with Hornetsecurity to enhance further our cybersecurity capabilities," said Vipul Narula, CEO at Commercis Technology. "The capability helps us take our clients through the Microsoft 365 cloud journey faster whilst make it more secure, scalable and reliable. This will also enable our customers manage their complex SharePoint estate whist giving them visibility, options and control as they take the AI journey with MS Copilot and other AI tools. Together, we will equip businesses with the tools they need to navigate an increasingly complex cyber environment."

Hornetsecurity is known for its comprehensive suite of digital email security solutions, including spam filtering, phishing protection, and data encryption. By leveraging these tools, Commercis Technology aims to deliver a higher level of security against new emerging threats.

"We are thrilled to welcome Commercis Technology as valued Partners, to expand our reach and positioning in this important region. Our advanced protection solutions are designed to combat the evolving threats in the digital landscape, and this partnership will help accelerate the delivery of our AI-powered solutions and add even more value to our customers. Together, we will empower businesses to protect their critical information and communication and maintain trust in their digital operations," said Irvin Shillingford, Regional Sales Manager for Northern Europe at Hornetsecurity. "We look forward to the opportunities ahead and continuing our journey together to raise awareness and promote best practices in information security."

Vipul Narula adds, "This partnership marks a significant milestone in our journey to enhance our offering, and it underscores our commitment to providing advanced technologies with the highest level of security and compliance for our customers and partners."

Ambassador Jonathan Cohen Joins Commercis Advisory Board

Commercis is honored to announce the appointment of Ambassador Jonathan Cohen to its Advisory Board. Ambassador Cohen, a strategic advisor and international consultant, brings a wealth of experience in international diplomacy, strategic negotiations, and governmental relations, making him a significant addition to the team.

Ambassador Cohen's distinguished diplomatic career, which spans over 35 years, includes roles as Ambassador to Egypt and the United Nations, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia covering Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus, Deputy Chief of Mission in Baghdad and Nicosia, and as Acting Deputy Chief of Mission in Paris. His expertise will be invaluable in guiding Commercis as it expands its global footprint and strengthens its strategic initiatives. His insights and advice, particularly in navigating the complex international landscape, will be critical in fostering robust relationships with key stakeholders.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ambassador Cohen to our Advisory Board,” said Alan Afrasiab, Group CEO of Commercis. “His extensive experience in global diplomacy and strategic negotiations is crucial for our continued growth. Ambassador Cohen’s long history of impactful diplomatic roles aligns perfectly with our vision and will enhance our execution of strategic initiatives. We are excited about the insights and direction he will bring to our executive team.”

Ambassador Cohen expressed his enthusiasm about joining Commercis: “I am delighted to collaborate with such a talented international team and contribute to its global reach and success as an Advisory Board member. I look forward to leveraging my experience to support the growth and strategic vision of Commercis."

Commercis Appoints General Counsel to Support Global Operations and Oversee its US Operations

Commercis Plc is excited to announce the appointment of Thomas J. Dolan III as the company’s new General Counsel. In this pivotal role, Mr. Dolan will be responsible for providing legal support to Our Global Team as well as running, growing, and managing business operations in the United States, handling governmental relationships, and maintaining relationship with key partners and clients.

“I am honoured to join Commercis Plc as Legal Counsel in the U.S. and General Counsel for Commercis globally. It is a privilege to contribute to the growth of this dynamic company and ensure we maintain the highest standards of compliance and strengthen our relationships with partners and clients in the U.S.”

Thomas J. Dolan III

With his extensive experience in both domestic and international law, and proven track record in strategic business management and ability to navigate complex legal issues, Mr. Dolan is set to play a crucial role in driving Talia’s expansion and ensuring regulatory compliance.

“We are thrilled to welcome Thomas J. Dolan III to our team,” said Alan Afrasiab, Group CEO of Commercis Plc. “His expertise and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to scale our operations and strengthen our strategic relationships with prime agencies. With extensive experience in corporate law and international relations, Mr Dolan brings exceptional proficiency to our executive team. His role will be critical in ensuring compliance, navigating regulatory frameworks, and strengthening our strategic engagements."

Commercis honored by the ISOA with Innovation Award 2024

Commercis is thrilled to announce that it has been recognized by the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), winning the prestigious Innovation Award in the ISOA Global Impact Awards. This award celebrates Commercis’s pioneering contribution and commitment to advancing stability operations through innovative solutions.

Commercis was awarded the Innovation Award for its unique and groundbreaking achievements. Their innovative solutions have revolutionized the provision and support of hybrid communication for diplomatic missions across multiple countries torn by conflict, political instability, economic disadvantage, and environmental disasters.

These esteemed awards from ISOA, a leading organization dedicated to promoting high standards in stability operations, underscore the impact of their innovative approach to enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness in complex environments.

"We are deeply honored to receive these significant awards from ISOA," said Alan Afrasiab, President and Group CEO of Commercis. "Innovation is at the core of our mission, and this recognition is a testament to our entire team’s hard work and dedication. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries and driving forward-thinking solutions that deliver unparalleled value to our clients and the industry."

Being acknowledged by The International Stability Operations Association, a renowned organization fostering excellence, accountability, and innovation within the defense stability operations sector is a significant milestone for Commercis. acknowledged by such a respected organization highlights the positive influence of our work and inspires us to continue setting new standards in our industry.

Commercis sincerely thanks its clients, partners, and team members for their unwavering support and collaboration. The company remains steadfast in its commitment to innovation, embracing new challenges, and making significant contributions to organizations operating in challenging conditions. For more information about Commercis’s award-winning innovative solutions and the company, please visit www.commercis.com or contact Agata Marshall.

Breaking boundaries by unveiling the East-West connection with launch of innovative transit route, spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa

As a leading telecommunication solution provider, the addition of this ground-breaking transit route linking east and west will provide customers with a strategic and diverse route for their network traffic and seamlessly connect Asia, Europe, and Africa, fostering unparalleled opportunities for economic growth and innovation.

The newly established route represents a significant achievement in the telecommunication industry, consolidating our position as a pioneer in advancing global connectivity solutions. The robust and innovative infrastructure provides new options to serve regions by tying together key growth markets and providing governments and businesses with enhanced reliability, speed, and security in their digital interactions.

Commenting on the launch of the new transit route, Alan Afrasiab, Group CEO and President at Commercis, stated, "We are thrilled to unveil this transformative infrastructure that will redefine global connectivity standards. By bridging Asia, Europe, and Africa, our transit route strategically links major economic hubs, facilitating seamless communication and data exchange between regions.”

Paul Ziegler, SVP Network and Carriers at Commercis adds: “Subsea infrastructure, currently, serve as a critical arteries for global internet traffic, facilitating communication, commerce, and collaboration across continents. However, in instance of an incident such as a cable cut it highlights vulnerabilities in the connectivity infrastructure, underscoring the need for enhanced redundancy and diversity measures.

Here at Commercis, we recognize the importance of maintaining uninterrupted connectivity for businesses, governments, and individuals. As such, we are committed to providing diverse network solutions to mitigate the impact of cable cuts and ensure continuity of service for our valued partners and customers.”

Alan Afrasiab continues: “This initiative reaffirms our commitment to driving connectivity and fostering growth on an international scale. Leveraging advanced technology and strategic partnerships, the IP route enables seamless data transmission, maximizing efficiency for governments, businesses and many economies alike.”

The company remains committed to pushing the boundaries of innovation and as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the establishment of this new transit route underscores Commercis’s dedication to shaping the future of telecommunications and driving positive change globally.

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital technologies for commerce, communication, and collaboration, initiatives like this play a crucial role in ensuring that no region is left behind in the digital age.

Commercis Plc appoints Chief Executive Officer for one of the groups company, Commercis Technology

Commercis Plc, a leading provider of connectivity and technology solutions, announced the appointment of Vipul Narula as a Chief Executive Officer of Commercis Technology and he will assume the leadership role of Commercis Cyber.

With a distinguished background in the IT, Technology and Telecommunication sectors, Vipul Narula is well-equipped to spearhead our digital journey, ensuring that Commercis Technology remains at the forefront of technological advancements. His visionary leadership will play a pivotal role in optimising operations, foster innovation and drive the digital offerings and delivering unparalleled value to our customers and partners.

As a highly accomplished professional with career spanning over 3 decades, Vipul has held many senior roles as Head of AMEA Sales at British Telecom (HK), COO at British Telecom (HK), Head of Operations and Commercial at British Telecom (UK) and many other roles within BT Group. Prior to joining BT, Vipul has worked for HCL, Tata, Accenture, Toyota, and Cisco, occupying various executive and senior leadership roles with responsibilities of strategy, business operations, commercial, PMO and consultancy.

Vipul has worked with global telcos spanning across 80+ countries globally. He has also worked closely with F500 customers and helped them achieve their digital journey to cloud, cyber security, connectivity, internet, satellite, subsea capacity, voice/UC, contact centre and data centre.

Vipul’s track record makes him the perfect fit to lead our company into its next phase of growth. Vipul states: “With being blessed to have this experience across various parts of the business, it gives me a 360-degree view to see and understand customer problems with a different lens and drive change to digital transformation – keeping customer success, security, regulatory compliance and commercial at the heart of the change. Technology is close to my heart and connecting customers, users, buyers, sellers, partners into a well-knit eco system gives me a great deal of satisfaction. I believe that today and the next decades Digital Transformation will be driven by harnessing the power of cloud, connectivity, data, analytics, observability, ML, AI with Cyber Security at the core of this journey. Our focus and goal is to become THE trusted partners for our customers on this digital journey. I am honoured to be appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Commercis Technology and look forward to collaborating with the talented team here to drive our leadership position and technological innovation and deliver value to our customers.”

In addition to driving our digital transformation efforts, Vipul will also lead the cybersecurity arm of Commercis business. In today's ever-evolving threat landscape, cybersecurity is of paramount importance, and under Vipul's guidance, Commercis are confident in the ability to fortify the defences and safeguard the interests of our customers and stakeholders.

Alan Afrasiab, Chairman and Group CEO at Commercis Plc, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead with Vipul at the helm, and we look forward to embarking on this journey together towards a future defined by innovation, resilience, and excellence. Vipul’s leadership will be instrumental in guiding our technology strategy, fostering collaboration across teams, and ensuring that we remain at the forefront of our industry. I am confident that his passion for excellence and commitment to our core principles will inspire our team and guide us towards continued success.”

Commercis Plc Appoints Steve Tunnicliffe as Board Member in Advisory Capacity to Drive Business Growth and Success

Commercis Plc, the parent company of Talia, DataGrid Network and Quika, and a leading provider of connectivity and technology solutions today announced the appointment of Steve Tunnicliffe as a Board Member. Steve will assume an advisory role and will work closely with the management team, providing strategic insights and management skills to optimise operations, foster innovation, and capitalise on emerging opportunities.

As a highly accomplished professional with over 30 years in the telecommunications, satellite, and broadcast industries, Steve has a remarkable history of driving business success and shaping effective strategies. Until recently, Steve served as the Senior Vice President, Global Sales for ST Engineering iDirect, a leading satellite ground segment technology provider. In addition, Steve held positions on several boards of directors. Throughout his 16-year tenure at iDirect, he occupied various executive and senior leadership roles. His commitment to putting customers first with compelling propositions is deeply ingrained in his approach.

Before joining iDirect, Steve worked for BT Global Services and the former satellite division of Deutsche Telekom (Plenexis), delivering innovative connectivity solutions in complex environments within defence, government, maritime, aviation, telecom, and enterprise markets. Steve is widely respected and trusted by both customers and partners alike.

In his advisory role, Steve will collaborate closely with Commercis's leadership team to shape and execute strategies that drive growth, enhance operational efficiency, and maximize opportunities for success. His vision aligns seamlessly with Commercis's commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainable business practices.

Alan Afrasiab, Chairman at Commercis Plc, expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, "We are thrilled to welcome Steve to our team. His wealth of knowledge and strategic acumen will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our growth trajectory and overall success. The board and management are excited about the energy and expertise he brings to the company, and we look forward to achieving new milestones together.”

Steve Tunnicliffe added, "It is a pleasure to join the Board of Directors at Commercis Plc. I have historically worked closely with Alan Afrasiab and the executive team in providing technology solutions to support the attainment of their business goals. In my new role as a Non-Executive Director, I look forward to working with the board and management team in an advisory capacity to support the attainment of Commercis’s growth aspirations and business objectives."

This appointment aligns with Commercis's commitment to assembling an accomplished board to guide the company toward continued growth, innovation and excellence.

Commercis Plc Appoints New Board Member

Commercis Plc, the parent company of Talia, DataGrid Network and Quika, and a leading provider of connectivity and technology solutions today announced the appointment of Renato Goodfellow as a Board Member.

Renato brings over 40 years of experience in the telecommunication and connectivity industry harnessed at BT. Having spent most of his career in his chosen field, he is a true expert and has amassed a considerable amount of knowledge and experience that is unparalleled; gained in a number of industry sectors including satellite operator ownership, energy & mining, maritime, government, defence, telecoms, and more.

Until recently, he has held the position of the Head of Network Services Satellite role at BT Global Services. Prior to that, he held a wide range of positions and has been involved in some of the most prestigious projects across the globe from network planning, TV, product management, strategy, partnerships management and acquisitions.

"We are delighted to welcome Renato to Commercis Plc," said Alan Afrasiab, Chairman & President of Commercis Plc. "With over four decades of experience in the technology and telecommunications industry, Renato brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise in product, joint-ventures, acquisitions, and innovation. We are confident that Renato will provide invaluable insights and guidance to our team as we continue to grow our business and expand our reach into new markets. We are thrilled to have him join our Board and look forward to a productive partnership."

Renato Goodfellow said, "I am honoured to become a member of the Board of Directors at Commercis Plc. I have long admired the company’s commitment to innovation and its focus on customer satisfaction. I look forward to working with the board and management team to help the group of Commercis Plc achieve its long-term goals."

Announcement of the Appointment of Stewart Phillips and Floyd Turner

Talia is pleased to announce two new key appointments to its Global Service Delivery, with Stewart Phillips serving as VP of Global Project Service Delivery Director and Floyd Turner as VP of Global Service Delivery Operations & Customer Assurance.

Talia has always held a reputation for the highest service delivery standards, and these recent appointments further underpin that priority. With an increasing number of international projects being undertaken, the organisation’s structure will continue to support that growth, ensuring projects are delivered to the same exacting values that Talia has always stood for.

With a solid foundation and growing team, Service Delivery is now available to support Talia’s partners, providing an accountable and reliable service with complete transparency to the standard you expect from Talia.

Stewart has been with Talia for over four years. His new role will enable him to manage each project from conception to commercials, design, implementation, and project delivery to go live, after which Floyd’s team undertakes ongoing support and maintenance.

Stewart brings a wealth of technical and commercial experience, which he has honed through his management positions over the past four decades. He is a renowned expert who has served in various industries, including military, energy, and satellite communications.

At Talia, Floyd will lead teams responsible for ongoing service provision and maintenance, service partner management, quality management, and the Network Operations Centre (NOC).

Before joining Talia, Floyd held numerous customer relations and business operations roles. He has over 30 years of experience across various industries and companies, from startups to Fortune 500 companies across diverse markets and complex operational environments, including 15 years in satellite services. Floyd has been part of many innovative technology developments, service deployments, and implementation of customer management solutions.

“It is a pleasure working with Stewart and Floyd. The impact both are making is already visible and recognised by our customers,” said Alan Afrasiab, President & CEO of Talia. “Both bring extensive experience in operations, implementation, integration, and customer relationship, which will be highly valuable across the entire array of services we offer.”

Commercis Acquires Independent Teleport Operator Onlime

Data Grid Network GmbH, a subsidiary of Commercis Plc, has today announced the acquisition of a majority shareholding in the independent teleport operator Onlime GmbH and its TechnoPark facility near Hannover in Germany. Onlime GmbH provides critical connectivity for national and international clients with access to 200+ geostationary satellites giving worldwide coverage. Access to these satellites is crucial to support enterprise, government, military, oil & gas, mining, banking, NGO and many other client’s groups. 

The freehold facility near Hannover, built by Deutsche Telekom in 1987, is one of the largest in Europe and is extensively connected to the world's fibre networks. With almost 3,000 sqm of buildings, including a substantial Data Centre, Network Operations Centre, and Technical Labs, the TechnoPark will provide Commercis Communications with a secure and central hub enabling further global expansions. 

Commercis, a teleport operator since 2009 and the first certified by the World Teleport Association (WTA) in 2019, has been exploring opportunities for larger and robust premises to continue its ambitious development objectives. Investing in Onlime's business, facilities, and it’s existing clients gives Commercis an edge in its offering. 

Chairman of Commercis Plc, Alan Afrasiab, stated: "the acquisition of Onlime GmbH and its facility has come at precisely the right time. With the staff of two teleports coming together, we will have more resources to ensure we can deliver on our plans for continued growth in both GEO and LEO sectors. The larger premises will help facilitate plans for a Green Data Centre, which we will be keen to begin development on soon". 

Chief Executive Officer of Onlime GmbH, Paul Ziegler, added: " The team at the Onlime teleport is delighted to become part of the Commercis Group of companies, organisations that share our vision and values. Combining our award-winning Teleport and Data Centre with Commercis' leading services and solutions means clients will benefit from greater international connectivity, support and a global presence with Commercis' offices worldwide".