C&W awarded government PSN framework contract
Cable&Wireless Worldwide has signed a two-year Public Service Network (PSN) framework agreement, with an option to extend up to a further two years, to provide the Government with a highly secure, dedicated pan-government directory and portal that will transform communications between central government, local government, police and the NHS.
Cable&Wireless Worldwide has signed a two-year Public Service Network (PSN) framework agreement, with an option to extend up to a further two years, to provide the Government with a highly secure, dedicated pan-government directory and portal that will transform communications between central government, local government, police and the NHS.
Expected to carry over 100 million emails per month, it will play an important role in the modernisation of public services by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of day-to-day interactions with citizens and businesses.
The transition to the GSi (Government Secure Intranet) Convergence Framework is scheduled to complete in February 2012 and includes improved security applications and increased bandwidth for less cost. The services under the framework agreement include email, applications, web hosting, security, data and information/knowledge sharing services, including a portal and remote presentation.
Chris Chant, executive director Cabinet Office, added: I am optimistic about the future and how PSN will enable us to deliver better IT services for a massive reduction in end cost to government and I think we can make a huge contribution in doing that through cloud services. I see the assets supporting this framework offering an environment suitable for hosting cloud applications through ARC, an applications resource centre; it offers a procurement route and the security around apps without customers having to provide capital up front for a service.
The GSi Convergence Framework is an evolution of the current GSi that C&W Worldwide provides and will enable increased collaboration and information sharing among the UKs six million public sector workers. A dedicated portal for all government will be available, with a central intranet landing page and the first universal contact list for civil servants.
Brian Woodford, managing director at Public Sector, Cable&Wireless Worldwide, said it was a groundbreaking framework agreement that will transform communications across government.
