FTB Communications - The History

Established in 1996, FTB Communications Ltd is owned and run by brothers Mike and Martin Forrest.
 
FTB Communications (Sole Trader) was initially set up in 1994 by Mike, to provide IT hardware and software (including Microsoft Windows) services to the IBM AS/400 Midrange market place.

With Mike’s previous 15 years experience working for IBM UK, both as a Systems Engineer and Salesman, then later as an IBM Agent/Business Partner, this allowed him to create a small, but niche, consultancy/value-added business in the IBM AS/400 market place.

In 1994, Martin was running his own infrastructure design and cabling installation business. Back then, he was running a small team of six field engineers, and was designing and installing IT based cabling systems throughout the UK. Martin was initially serving the IBM AS/400 market place (Twinax, Type 1 - Token Ring – and later Ethernet). With the emergence of Windows and Server based technologies and solutions, Category  1,2,&3 over Ethernet cabling systems, Martin expanded his business into the multi- user Windows based PC and Server network environments.

In 1996, Mike and Martin saw the ‘overlap’ and convergence of technologies and topologies – Microsoft, Servers, PC’s, Hubs, Switches, Ethernet, Category 3,4,5 structured wiring – and decided to join forces combining the two businesses, to form FTB Communications Ltd.

These initial ‘grass roots’ of valuable experience and knowledge in delivering successful technology solutions to two separate – but emerging market places - have created a sound foundation for the Consulting, Infrastructure and IT Services delivered to FTB’s existing and new customers today.