The Challenge
Somerset House, an iconic London landmark with a rich heritage, faced the challenge of evolving into a contemporary Digital Hub. With over 3.4 million visitors and 70 micro businesses on site each year, the estate needed to provide fast, reliable, and secure connectivity for a diverse range of users. Legacy infrastructure limited operational agility and made it difficult to deliver the flexible and future-ready digital services expected by both residents and guests. Somerset House recognised the need for a robust, scalable solution that could meet current demands and support ongoing digital innovation.
The Solution
To realise its vision, Somerset House partnered with Focus Group to implement a cloud-based infrastructure powered by Cisco Meraki. This solution included the deployment of over 140 switches, 400 access points, and next-generation firewalling, all hosted across 9 resilient data centres. The platform delivered total network uptime, enterprise-grade security, and centralised device management, enabling the team to manage every device from a single application, anywhere in the world. Reflecting on the experience, Somerset House noted: "The technical know-how of Focus Group is seriously impressive and the team of engineers they brought onto the project were exceptional. Not many providers have this level of experience, or quality engineers to bring to bear on an implementation of this scale. Focus Group acts as a seamless extension of our team and has proven invaluable in enabling us to make more intelligent decisions and make our future vision a reality! Crucially, they deliver what they promise."
The Results
Following the transformation, Somerset House was able to redefine how it connects with its community. The new infrastructure provided the foundation for contextual marketing, better wayfinding, and future-ready technologies such as beacon integration. The platform's scalability and cloud management capabilities gave Somerset House full visibility and control over its network, supporting open APIs and trusted ecosystem partners. With enhanced security, resilience, and operational simplicity, the estate is now positioned as a digital pioneer within the cultural and business sectors. Key metrics include supporting 3.4 million annual visitors, enabling 70 micro businesses, deploying 140+ switches and 400+ access points. As a result, Somerset House continues to deliver exceptional experiences, foster innovation, and support its vision of becoming a Digital Hub for the future.
