Staffordshire County Council has selected Kcom, part of the KCOM Group, to deliver one of the country’s first Public Sector Networks (PSN).
The five year contract, which is extendable to 10 years, is worth approximately £23m and combines wide and local-area networks, rationalisation of multiple telephony services onto a single IP platform, a new contact centre system, streamlining of mobile phones connectivity and the centralisation of security functions.
The agreement will see Kcom provide the Council with a county-wide network designed to allow any public sector body in Staffordshire to join the PSN and exploit its benefits.
Working initially with Staffordshire County Council and the county’s schools, the network will be accessed by around 200 council sites and 400 schools, said Kcom.
The network will also connect all Borough and District councils in Staffordshire and South Staffordshire Health authority have now agreed to join the PSN, creating one of the largest networks in the UK – connecting around 50,000 devices.
Staffordshire County Council CIO Sander Kristel said Kcom’s experience in the public sector has been invaluable in creating a solution which works for the council, as is the fact that Kcom sits on the PSN GB (Governing Board) – which works with the Cabinet Office on issues relating to PSNs.
"It is reassuring that that the PSN we are developing with Kcom is in direct alignment with Cabinet Office guidance, policies and standards," Kristel said.
