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Norfolk network deal goes to Updata

19/01/16

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Framework contract is open to other public authorities around the region

Norfolk County Council is planning for a major upgrade of its communications networks following the award of a four year, £20 million framework contract to Updata Infrastructure.

It will cover council buildings, schools and libraries, and the council has already called off the first £10 million in arranging for the company to install new wide and local area networks, unified communications and mobile communications across its operations.

Other plans include an upgrade for the council's contact centre using a new utility 'as a service' platform, and the implementation of Updata's 'Anywhere SIM' network, which enables users to draw on any one of three major networks - O2, Vodafone and EE - for their mobile phones in order to get the strongest possible signal.

Updata said the move will beef up the ICT infrastructure and improve operational performance, and that it will provide at least 10 apprenticeships over the course of the contract and two undergraduate work placements per year.

The framework is available to other councils and healthcare authorities in Norfolk, and to public organisations in the neighbouring counties of Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire..

Reduce costs

Al Collier, Norfolk County Council's head of procurement, said: “This contract will reduce costs and enhance IT services for public sector staff and for schools, allowing them to work flexibly and deliver the best possible service to people in Norfolk. Other public sector organisations may also take advantage of the framework, further benefiting people across the region, and I’m delighted that Updata will be offering apprenticeships to local people.”

This is the second significant deal for Updata Infrastructure, which is part of Capita IT Enterprise Services, to be announced in the past few days: last week it announced that it had been signed by Northumbria Police to provide a wide area network.

Image: Rozszerzonej Gwiazdy, public domain

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