Delivering high quality Data Networks, Audio Visual Solutions and Home Automation Systems

iQ Comms delivers data networks, audio visual (AV) solutions, Home and Office Automation systems and electrical installations to the commercial, residential and education sectors, as well as to property developers and construction firms. In addition, we offer system design and interactive touchscreen technology solutions to retailers, educators, property developers and corporates.

Mark Linscott, the founder of iQ Comms, is a qualified electrical engineer. After he completed his professional training, he decided to follow his passion for motorcycle racing to world class level.

When serious injury ended Mark’s professional racing career in 1993, he transferred his ability for generating top results on the race track to delivering high quality engineering and technology solutions to the broadcast and telecoms industries, working for such companies as Nokia and Cable & Wireless.

The former British TTF1 Champion had identified a gap in the broadcast market for a provider to deliver high quality services and installations and decided to launch iQ Comms in October 1997.

Timeline

  • Oct 1997
  • April 1998
  • 1998
  • 1999/2000
  • Jan 2001
  • 2001-2004
  • 2005
  • 2005-2006
  • 2006
  • Present day

iQ Comms was launched by Mark Linscott, whose vision was to provide high quality services and solutions to clients without the ‘over-engineering mystique’ prevalent in the industry at the time. Within days of launching the company the first contract was awarded by Telewest to design and build the Croydon regional headend project. The project encompassed full audio and video processing and modulation from source capture to RF output.

iQ Comms opens its first office and employs a receptionist and first field engineers.

Three major contracts won – Nokia’s voice transmission switches and Telewest’s Wolverhampton regional headend contract. Awarded Telewest national digital roll-out contract with Thomson Broadcast.

Completed Telewest’s main digital headend, with 50 iQ Comms staff and contractors onsite. Our remit was to design and install the digital signal cabling systems in the client’s new National Transmission Centre, encompassing up to 171 equipment racks. Over 600km of cable was installed and managed in carefully planned tiered containment routes. A bespoke electrical earthing system was designed and implemented. We project managed the 50-strong engineering team, providing site management over all third-party contractors and held the HSE F10 as principal contractor.

iQ Comms grew to employ 18 head office staff and field engineers and moved into larger premises.

Telewest contract to develop the cabling infrastructure of a nationwide high speed internet (HSI) system. This is still acknowledged as the fastest system in the UK. Won a stream of contracts with Berkeley Group, Haymills Construction and Borras Construction, providing electrical and data engineering for work in the commercial/industrial, residential and public sectors.

Won BBC contract to design, build and commission large-scale IRS distribution systems; won ITV contract for studio pre-wire and transmission installations; won IPC Network Services contract to test the voice and data circuits of financial trader dealer boards and multiplexes. We went on to become the UK and European stock holder for these services and products.

Primary focus of the business shifted to data, audio visual (AV) and automation for residential and commercial. We have won accreditations with Krone, Nexans, Hellerman-Tyton, Excel, Crestron and CEDIA, to name but a few.

We moved into self-contained 4,500 square foot premises in Swanley, Kent.

Although our service offering has changed over the years, iQ Comms still embodies the managing director’s vision to provide high quality services and products without over-engineering.

Contact us to find out how we can help you and to become the next part of the iQ Comms success story.