14.05.13
High speed network for Blackpool
Blackpool Council will set up its own high speed internet infrastructure, to cut costs and boost digital efficiency across Lancashire.
The Networking People (TNP) will design and build a council-owned wide area network and manage it for five years. The £3.2m contract will connect schools, libraries, businesses and public buildings, and can be extended to include six other local authorities in the region.
A web-based phone system will also be installed to cut costs for the public sector.
Cllr Chris Maughan, Cabinet Member for Technology, said: “This partnership is allowing the council to make significant savings at a time when the cost of telecoms is going up. It is also providing the town with resilient and secure connectivity that is completely under our control to grow and adapt as we do.
“TNP’s solution will modernise how the council delivers services to the public and it is an enabler for huge efficiencies that we can channel into other key areas.”
Chris Wade, director, TNP, said: “As a regional, independent business, not only are we able to offer the council asset ownership of the network, but we can provide cost savings by integrating existing infrastructure and dramatically reduce operating costs.
“Unlike some big internet service providers, we have developed a great relationship with the IT team at the council. We understand that vital services will operate across this network – from schools to public health services – and our resilient solution provides the highest levels of connectivity to ensure these are maintained 24/7.”
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