HMV to replace network in multimillion-pound deal

Group revamps infrastructure to provide better customer service

HMV's gaming zone is bandwidth-hungry

HMV Group has signed a multimillion-pound contract for the replacement of its legacy network in a project aimed at improving customer experience.

The five-year deal with Cable & Wireless Worldwide (C&W) covers the rollout of the new wide area network across the 600 HMV and Waterstone’s stores in the UK and Ireland as well as key distribution sites, which include a Guernsey warehouse.

The implementation has already started.

Improved broadband connectivity for the firm’s e-commerce platform is also part of the deal. This is intended to speed up sales processing and provide better service online regardless of demand peaks during busy trading periods.

High-speed internet access is also expected to underpin the group’s goal of developing its instore tech and gaming zones, which need high bandwidth. Broadband ADSL 2+ capability provided by C&W will guarantee speed of 1Mbit/s.

HMV Group’s chief information officer Gary Arthurs said the company’s next-generation shopping experience is now "second to none".