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/
