Wave 9
Wave 9 is a UK managed services provider focused exclusively on schools and multi-academy trusts, delivering managed broadband, Sophos-based security and web filtering, KCSIE-aligned safeguarding reporting, and hosted VoIP telephony across more than 900 schools in England. The company operates as the education division of Modern Networks following its December 2023 acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersMilwich, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Wave 9 does
Wave 9 Managed Services Ltd is a UK-based specialist managed services provider focused exclusively on the education sector, delivering managed internet connectivity, network security, web filtering, and cloud telephony to schools, academies, and multi-academy trusts. The company operates three integrated service brands: WaveConnect for resilient broadband and Wi-Fi infrastructure, WaveProtect for security built on the Sophos XGS firewall platform with endpoint protection, managed detection and response (MDR), and safeguarding reporting aligned to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and WaveTalk for hosted VoIP telephony built on Gamma's Horizon platform with Microsoft Teams and EdTechPro MIS integration. Services are delivered remotely by UK-based engineering teams under fully managed or co-managed models, with procurement facilitated through the Crown Commercial Service Education Technology framework (RM6103) and the Everything ICT framework. The company reports over 900 schools as customers across England, with named multi-academy trust deployments spanning Birmingham, Staffordshire, South Yorkshire, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, Merseyside, Kent, and Leicestershire.
Wave 9 operates a recurring-revenue managed services model with multi-year contracts, supplemented by hardware (firewalls, wireless, switching), professional services (audits, surveys, migrations), and a managed infrastructure-as-a-service financing option that bundles Wi-Fi and LAN over time. Its tech stack is partner-dependent rather than proprietary: Sophos for firewalls and MDR, Gamma for telephony, Cisco Meraki for wireless under the DfE Connect the Classroom programme, and Lightspeed Systems for AI-powered web filtering and safeguarding alerts. The company is a Sophos Managed Service Partner of the Year for Northern Europe (2024) and reports an NPS score of 94. Following its December 2023 acquisition by Modern Networks, Wave9 functions as the education division of the Modern Networks group, headquartered at 1 Hargreaves Court, Staffordshire.
Wave 9 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wave 9
- Legal name
- Wave 9 Managed Services Ltd
- Website
- https://wave9.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wave 9 is a UK managed services provider focused exclusively on schools and multi-academy trusts, delivering managed broadband, Sophos-based security and web filtering, KCSIE-aligned safeguarding reporting, and hosted VoIP telephony across more than 900 schools in England. The company operates as the education division of Modern Networks following its December 2023 acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wave 9 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Education Managed IT Services
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Telecommunications (517)
- SIC
- Communications Services, Nec (4899)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Network Resilience & High Availability Services (Redundancy, Failover) (BPAEAEAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cybersecurity Infrastructure for Campuses (Firewalls, SIEM tooling, Endpoint Mgmt) (EDAEAHAH), Unified Communications & VoIP Telephony for Campuses (EDAEAHAE)
Keywords
Where Wave 9 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Milwich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wave 9 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Managed Services Subscriptions: Recurring subscription revenue from managed internet, security, filtering, and telephony services. Services are typically contracted on multi-year terms with monthly or annual billing. Pricing varies based on school size, number of sites, and service tier.
- Hardware and Infrastructure: One-time revenue from sale and installation of network equipment including firewalls, wireless access points, and switches. Equipment can be purchased outright or included within managed service contracts.
- Professional Services: Implementation, configuration, project management, and on-going technical support services. Includes firewall audits, network surveys, and migration services.
- Managed Infrastructure as a Service (MIaaS): Flexible financing option allowing schools to procure Wi-Fi and LAN infrastructure as a managed service paid over time, inclusive of support, maintenance, patching and warranty.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Custom managed services packages for schools |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Wave 9 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wave 9 is a UK education-focused managed services provider delivering resilient broadband internet (WaveConnect), network security and safeguarding (WaveProtect), and cloud-hosted VoIP telephony (WaveTalk) to schools and multi-academy trusts. Services are managed or co-managed remotely by UK-based engineers and built on Sophos, Cisco Meraki, Gamma Horizon, and Lightspeed technologies, with full alignment to DfE standards and KCSIE safeguarding requirements.
Product overview
Wave 9 is an education-focused managed services provider offering a portfolio of three core integrated service lines: WaveConnect (managed internet, broadband, and network/Wi-Fi infrastructure), WaveProtect (security services including firewalls, web filtering, endpoint protection, and MDR), and WaveTalk (cloud-hosted VoIP telephony). These services are designed to work together as an integrated managed infrastructure solution for schools, with all services managed or co-managed by Wave 9 engineers and compliant with DfE and KCSIE standards. Additional add-on modules include Sophos Phish Threat for security awareness training, Lightspeed web filtering and alerting solutions, Fastvue-based KCSIE reporting, and firewall audit services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WaveConnect: Managed internet connectivity service for schools including broadband, resilience, and network infrastructure.
- WaveProtect
- WaveTalk
Products and services
- WaveConnect Managed internet connectivity service providing resilient broadband, network infrastructure, and Wi-Fi solutions for schools, designed to meet DfE technical standards. Delivered with dual connections, load balancing, and automatic failover for resilience.
- WaveProtect Managed security service for schools including next-generation firewalls, web filtering and monitoring, endpoint protection, and Managed Detect and Response powered by Sophos, delivering enterprise-class safeguarding and cyber defence.
- WaveTalk Cloud-based hosted VoIP telephony service for schools offering unlimited call plans, softphone capability, Microsoft Teams integration, advanced features including call recording for safeguarding, and integration with EdTechPro MIS.
- WaveProtect Firewall Audit Comprehensive audit service providing detailed reports on firewall configuration, security posture, open ports, NAT rules, and recommendations for improving cyber defences, including optional Sophos formal training.
- Lightspeed Filter Cloud-based, device-level web filtering powered by AI that automatically blocks inappropriate, harmful, and unknown sites, images, and video across all devices and operating systems, with patented content-blocking agents.
- Lightspeed Alert Safeguarding threat detection and alerting service identifying self-harm, cyberbullying, suicide, and school violence risk signals to enable early intervention by school safeguarding leads.
- Sophos Phish Threat Phishing attack simulation and security awareness training service that reduces human-based security risks through automated attack simulations, awareness training, and actionable reporting metrics.
- WaveProtect Managed Detect and Response (MDR) 24x7 monitoring, threat hunting, and mitigation service powered by Sophos, providing continuous surveillance of network security with rapid response to detected threats for schools.
- KCSIE Reporting Safeguarding compliance reporting service aligned to Keeping Children Safe in Education requirements, providing detailed per-user reports via Fastvue integration for designated safeguarding leads.
Quantifiable outcome
- Bandwidth increases of up to 18x reported (from ~100 Mbps to 1.8 Gbps)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Wave 9
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wave 9 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature6 records
Wave 9 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Modern NetworkscoreModern Networks acquired Wave9 in December 2023, with Wave9 becoming the education division of the Modern Networks group. The investment supports Wave9's growth as a specialist education IT services provider.
- Lightspeed SystemscoreEducation-focused safeguarding partnership announced July 2021. Lightspeed Filter provides AI-powered cloud-based web filtering; Lightspeed Alert delivers safeguarding threat notifications for self-harm, cyberbullying and violence prevention; Lightspeed Classroom Management enables teacher visibility and control; Lightspeed MDM provides device management; Lightspeed Analytics offers software usage and engagement insights.
- SophoscoreLong-standing strategic partnership with Sophos as a managed service partner. Provides Sophos XGS next-generation firewall hardware, Sophos Intercept X endpoint protection, and Sophos Managed Detect and Response (MDR) services. Wave9 holds Sophos Managed Service Partner of the Year for Northern Europe recognition.
- GammacoreGamma provides the Horizon hosted telephony platform powering WaveTalk VoIP services for schools, including unlimited call plans and advanced business telephony features.
- Cisco MerakicorePreferred wireless and switching infrastructure partner for Connect the Classroom DfE-funded network upgrades. Cisco Meraki cloud-managed networking equipment delivers Wi-Fi 6 access points and enterprise switching for school environments.
- Everything ICTminorDfE-approved procurement framework enabling schools to purchase Wave9 services through compliant single-supplier quotation processes.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Wave 9 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Phoenix Software: UK IT reseller and managed services provider with a significant education customer base, delivering licensing, infrastructure, and managed services to schools and public-sector customers.
- Talk Straight: UK education-focused internet service provider delivering connectivity, telephony, and safeguarding services to schools. Direct overlap with Wave9's WaveConnect and WaveTalk product lines.
- Stone Group: UK IT services and hardware provider with a strong education vertical, offering managed services, connectivity, and devices to schools and MATs. Comparable mid-market scale and education-first positioning.
- XMA: UK IT provider specialising in the education sector with hardware, software, and managed services offerings. Comparable education-vertical focus and customer base to Wave9.
- Atomwide: UK education-focused managed services provider delivering internet, networking, telephony, and security to schools and MATs. Closest direct competitor to Wave9 by vertical focus, service mix, and customer segment.
Broad incumbents
- Softcat: Major UK IT infrastructure reseller and managed services provider with an education vertical serving schools, MATs, and higher education. Larger and broader than Wave9, but competes in adjacent managed service and framework deals.
- Trustmarque: UK IT services and managed services provider with significant public-sector presence, including education customers. Larger and broader portfolio, competes on managed infrastructure and framework agreements.
- Computacenter: Large UK and European IT services provider with education and public-sector contracts delivering managed infrastructure, networking, and end-user services. Competes for larger MAT and framework tenders.
- RM plc (RM Education): Long-standing UK education technology company providing IT services, infrastructure, and educational software to schools. Larger, broader portfolio than Wave9, but overlaps materially on managed IT and connectivity for schools.
- Capita: Large UK IT and business services company with an established education division delivering managed IT, connectivity, and digital services to schools and MATs. Significantly larger scale and broader portfolio than Wave9.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wave 9 social profiles
Digital presenceWave 9 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wave 9 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Wave 9 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wave 9 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wave 9
What does Wave 9 do?
Wave 9 is a UK education-focused managed services provider delivering resilient broadband internet (WaveConnect), network security and safeguarding (WaveProtect), and cloud-hosted VoIP telephony (WaveTalk) to schools and multi-academy trusts. Services are managed or co-managed remotely by UK-based engineers and built on Sophos, Cisco Meraki, Gamma Horizon, and Lightspeed technologies, with full alignment to DfE standards and KCSIE safeguarding requirements.
Is Wave 9 a public or private company?
Wave 9 is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Wave 9 founded?
Wave 9 was founded in 1963. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wave 9 based?
Wave 9 is headquartered in Milwich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Wave 9 make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Managed Services Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are hardware and Infrastructure, professional Services and managed Infrastructure as a Service (MIaaS).
Who are Wave 9's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Phoenix Software, Talk Straight, Stone Group, XMA and Atomwide. Broad incumbents are Softcat, Trustmarque, Computacenter, RM plc (RM Education) and Capita.
Does Wave 9 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wave 9.
What industry is Wave 9 in?
Wave 9's product category is Education Managed IT Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAEAL, Network Resilience & High Availability Services (Redundancy, Failover), with a secondary code of EDAEAHAH, Cybersecurity Infrastructure for Campuses (Firewalls, SIEM tooling, Endpoint Mgmt). Its NAICS code is 5415 and its SIC code is 4899.