Initially the network will carry data, voice and Internet traffic and will be scalable to enable further upgrades including managed and hosted Unified Communications services to be added in the future.
Mike Holderness, IT service manager at Healthcare Commission, said: “During the tendering process Thus was attentive to our requirements and have delivered an excellent solution tailored to the Commission’s needs and aspirations. We were impressed by the technology behind Thus’s advanced converged network and are confident that Thus has the skills and experience to operate and manage the network and importantly to deliver high quality customer service.”
The fully managed service will carry all IP traffic to the Healthcare Commission’s sites across the country. Further additions to the service could include a hosted IP Communications service to combine voice and video conferencing, PSTN voice break out and mobile voice and data.
Support, maintenance, consultancy, network monitoring and disaster recovery will also be provided by Thus as part of the deal.
“Thus has provided us with a network that will deliver efficiencies this year while at the same time establishing a platform able to absorb future services and network growth,” Holderness said.
The Healthcare Commission is an independent watchdog, promoting improvement in the services offered by the NHS and independent healthcare organisations.
Glasgow-based telecoms provider Thus was acquired by Cable&Wireless in October 2008. The new group will now be in a much stronger position to challenge BT’s dominance of the telecoms market.
