Virgin Media Business has won the new Cambridgeshire Public Sector Network (the CPSN) contract, which is expected to provide increased bandwidth for more than 200 schools and significant cost savings.
Virgin Media Business has the UK’s only nationwide fibre optic network, carrying 35% of all business broadband traffic. It said that the network will link Cambridgeshire public services and improve broadband for schools.
Cambridgeshire County Council and other public sector bodies across the region are set to see major savings and benefits from the new Cambridgeshire IT Network agreement, said Virgin Media Business.
Currently the partnership includes Cambridgeshire County Council, Fenland District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire & Rescue Service as well as the voluntary and community sector represented by the Cambridge Citizen’s Advice Bureau.
Cambridgeshire County Councillor Linda Oliver, Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance, said the new CPSN agreement will provide faster, more cost-effective and secure networks that will enable public services across Cambridgeshire to deliver more efficient services.
Oliver said, "Shared networking will keep costs down, delivering more for less while providing real benefits for our communities."
Virgin Media Business Managing Director Mark Heraghty said, "We’re absolutely committed to helping the public sector do more with technology, whether that be connecting multiple buildings with a super-fast network, empowering them to use the cloud or sharing valuable data across organisations."
"The CPSN Framework is a great example of the future of public sector technology procurement and we’re incredibly proud to be making this happen. What’s particularly exciting is that it’s not just about empowering the public sector in Cambridgeshire, the new network will put in place a platform for delivering projects and services that will bring long term benefits to the wider community," Heraghty added.
