The system will support Chip and PIN transaction processing online, should its main broadband link fail. It has been provided by Prodec Networks using network hardware from Sarian Systems.
The Pier head of information systems Alex Meek said the router uses the fastest mobile connection possible at each site. It operates with a download speed of about 1.8Mb a second, which is comparable to the speed of The Pier’s main wide area network.
The system will soon also act as a back-up route for stores to connect to The Pier’s head office. In the first quarter of next year, the retailer will roll out a gift-card application that will also use 3G as a back-up connection.
3G mobile phone connections are not yet available in all areas of the UK, but the system can operate using the more widely available GPRS network where it cannot connect at the higher speed.
However, Meek believes that, with 3G coverage continuing to become more widespread, retailers will begin to abandon broadband connections in favour of 3G as their main network connection technology in two to three years’ time.
The mobile connection has a total cost of ownership that is cheaper than the ISDN back-up service that The Pier used previously. However, Meek explained that the true value of the system is that it means there is no longer a single point on the network that can lead to a connection failure.
He said: “If we can’t operate Chip and PIN, we will have customers walking out. With security concerns, they are reluctant to sign for things.”
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