Virgin Media Business has committed its support and super-fast, nationwide fibre-optic network to the UK Government to underpin the Public Sector Network (PSN). The Cabinet Office’s programme is set to deliver substantial cost savings through a ‘network of networks’, at a time when the typical government department is looking at reducing its budget by 19 per cent over the next four years.
PSN is a Government initiative aimed at providing the very best in voice and data technology and related ICT services to public sector organisations at cost effective prices. Virgin Media Business is already a leading provider of national and regional WAN services. Its other services such as unified communications, remote access and managed LAN, are already delivered to public sector organisations securely and efficiently with end-to-end service assurance and have the ability to be accredited to PSN standards.
“Virgin Media Business has now become the second partner to sign a Deed of Undertaking to provide a fully compliant network ‘interconnection’ – the electronic highway that will span and connect the PSN,” said John Stubley PSN programme director. “We have all worked very hard to get PSN up and running and it is extremely gratifying to see the foundations of the network now firmly in place.”
Today’s announcement of Virgin Media Business’ agreement to launch its Government Conveyance Network (GCN) capability is a key enabler for the emerging PSN marketplace. This new capability builds upon other recent investments in information assurance and security and underpins Virgin Media Business’ public sector strategy for 2011 and beyond. The company’s commitment to the programme is illustrated by the creation of a dedicated PSN business unit, which has worked closely with the Cabinet Office over the last two years.
“The public sector is facing some of the toughest budget cuts in recent history. Through PSN, ICT has the potential to enable the public sector to change and adapt to these conditions, both in terms of cost savings and in productivity. Virgin Media Business has already made this a reality through its work with Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Partnership (HIOW), one of the country’s first collaborative network projects, enabling a shared service environment and built on PSN principles. This approach has been replicated by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust where sharing technology and procurement has led to efficiency savings and improvement to frontline services. These pathfinders are just the first step on a longer road that will revolutionise the way the sector procures, bringing both substantial savings and best in breed technology solutions for all,” said Lee Hull, director of public sector, Virgin Media Business.
“Virgin Media Business has been a driving force behind the future of public sector ICT for over 16 years and provide services for over 30,000 public sector sites and over 60 per cent of healthcare and emergency services. This gives us unique insight into how the public sector is procuring technology, how it would like to do so in the future and the benefits it would like to see from a shared services model. We’ve been able to take this knowledge and apply it to the most important and dynamic shared services initiative ever undertaken in the UK,” said Robert Parker, head of Public Sector Network development, Virgin Media Business.
With network capability focused on metropolitan areas, Virgin Media Business’ network footprint maps perfectly onto the geographical placement of local councils and distributed government agencies. This means that public sector organisations can easily access its network to improve productivity and enhance citizen services through PSN.
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About Public Sector Network
The PSN will create a ‘network of networks’ for the Public Sector from the existing commercial networks, and will develop a market place providing opportunities for industry, and savings for the Public Sector. The PSN will change the way Government Departments and Agencies, Local Authorities, and the Third Sector buy and use Voice and Data Networks. It will drive efficiencies in procurement, through a range of technical and service standards, which will lead to an open, collaborative environment for all UK Public Sector employees.
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/
