Cambridge County Council drives digital inclusion through new
network
Cambridgeshire County Council is improving
service for citizens and increasing social inclusion with the help
of a high-speed communications network from Virgin Media
Business.
New broadband connections are being deployed
to 140 foster carer, children’s residential and short stay homes,
children’s centres, care homes, residential centres and libraries
across the county. This supports the council’s goal of equality and
inclusion, a key priority in its vision for a Sustainable Community
Strategy for Cambridgeshire.
By using the network, children in foster care
and children’s homes and those using public access computers are
benefiting from faster access to learning resources and the
internet. This is helping to bridge the digital divide by ensuring
that all citizens have the necessary IT skills and access to
resources. Staff at outlying council offices are also now able to
access corporate systems, increasing their effectiveness and the
service they provide to citizens.
“Delivering on the Sustainable Community
Strategy for Cambridgeshire is a significant priority for the
council,” said Paul Rouse, Procurement Manager at Cambridgeshire
County Council. “By working with Virgin Media Business we have been
able to improve digital inclusion for the whole community as well
as increase efficiency across all our operations. Our long term
partnership provides a platform for innovation that is benefiting
all our citizens.”
Cambridgeshire County Council and Virgin Media
Business have worked together since the launch of the
Cambridgeshire Community Network in 2001. The collaboration has
developed due to Virgin Media Business’ competence, expertise and
ability to deliver innovative technology designed to support and
meet the council’s needs.
“We are living in an increasingly digital
world, making it imperative that no-one is excluded from the
benefits that new technology brings,” said Gerry Arthurs, head of
public sector, south, at Virgin Media Business. “Cambridgeshire
County Council is leading the way in this critical area, using its
innovative network platform to ensure digital inclusion, as well as
increasing efficiency for its staff and citizens.”
This latest network extension uses IPVPN with
access provided by broadband Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL),
purchased through Cambridgeshire County Council’s framework
agreement. It means that more than 500 sites/communities, including
schools, council buildings, libraries and outlying offices, are now
connected to the council network.
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About Virgin Media Business
Virgin Media Business is the UK’s only telco with a nationwide
fibre optic Next Generation Network. Launched in February 2010, the
company aims to bring the Virgin philosophy to the business
telecoms market. Providing innovative, high quality solutions built
on brilliant customer service.
Virgin Media Business is the largest business-to-business brand
in the Virgin group. With a strong product portfolio that includes
its market leading Ethernet services. It uses its network asset in
order to create bespoke tailored telecoms solutions for its
customers. Employees are located at 40 offices across the UK,
allowing Virgin Media Business to be closer to its customers in
every sense.
Previously known as ntl:Telewest Business, organisations working
with Virgin Media Business include London City Airport, Arqiva,
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Partnership and South West Water.
About Virgin Media
With almost 10 million customers, Virgin Media is the UK's first
quad-play provider of broadband, TV, phone and mobile.
The company is one of the largest residential broadband providers
in the UK, using a unique fibre optic cable network to deliver next
generation ultrafast internet access of up to 50Mb to just over
half of all homes. Combined with a high speed ADSL service and
mobile broadband products, Virgin Media is able to offer broadband
internet access to virtually the entire country.
Virgin Media has the UK’s most advanced TV on demand service and
is the only TV platform to carry BBC iPlayer. It is the second
largest provider of pay TV, was the first to launch a high
definition TV service and offers a high-specification, HD-ready V+
personal video recorder.
The company operates the most popular virtual mobile network in
the UK which, when launched, was the world’s first such mobile
phone service. It is also one of the largest fixed-line home phone
providers in the country.
Virgin Media also owns Virgin Media Television (VMtv) which runs
seven entertainment channels, including Virgin1, LIVING, Bravo and
Challenge. VMtv is a 50 per cent joint partner with BBC Worldwide
in UKTV, which consists of ten channels including Dave, G.O.L.D.,
Watch and Alibi.
With operations based entirely in the UK, Virgin Media Inc. is
listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (VMED) and the London Stock
Exchange (VMED).
For more information, go to http://www.virginmedia.com/
