Ben started his time in the IT industry when he was only 13. Joining his friends playing Minecraft on some well-known servers such as Gontroller PVP and Redstone PVP. He realised he could build his own Minecraft server. Using his pocket money, he rented a Minecraft Server from a host. His first couple of servers were failures, however eventually, he founded the first original Survival Universe with his friends. With tens of thousands of unique players, the server quickly grew.
Following the success of Survival Universe and needing to move on to dedicated infrastructure. He had to move the server from shared server hosting to its own dedicated server. This taught him how to manage the full stack, from infrastructure to application.
He quickly realised he could provide this service to other young entrepreneurs, founding his own Minecraft server hosting company, Pixel Hosting. This then moved him from the tech space and into business.
His business quickly developed and moved into the web hosting industry. Now hosting and developing websites for local businesses in the South East of the UK. His knowledge and experience continued to progress.
Following his time in the education system, he was introduced to a local small business that provided telecommunication services. Following a short stint volunteering with them, visiting both residential and commercial client properties and providing support for broadband and hosted SIP PBX infrastructure, Ben decided to expand his business into this sector. Providing telecommunications at first to friends and family and their businesses.
Fast forward to today and years of working in the IT industry. Ben found that often, the view of other technical experts was prioritising the technology over the customer needs. ‘Shoehorning’ the customers need to match the needs of the product. Rather than the other way around.
Building on the ethos of “Customer needs first”; Ben started to provide managed IT solutions to local businesses, advising and providing IT services such as managed business email, hardware support such as laptops and desktops, and office infrastructure including phone and network requirements.
This is where OctaNet’s tailor-made broadband product was introduced. Changing the method of how broadband is delivered. Instead of a faceless “Order on a website and receive your equipment for you to plug in”. Instead, the product had a personal touch. Visiting the clients’ property to perform a WiFi survey to ensure the customers’ needs are met before proceeding and then providing options on the most efficient setup.
Following thorough long-term tests over 5 years, we received 99% customer satisfaction and 99% uptime on the broadband service.
“Man invented technology to make peoples’ lives easier, why is it that we now have to bend to the technology requirements?” – Ben, Managing Director of OctaNet Ltd.