Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Leicester City Council invests in high-speed network to improve staff working conditions and public service

Leicester City Council invests in high-speed network to improve staff working conditions and public service

•New network provides higher speeds, greater flexibility and greater resilience
•New network facilitates secure remote working for staff
•Council expects return on investment in four years

ntl:Telewest Business, the supplier of communications services to the public and private sectors, today announced that it has successfully implemented a high speed network connecting Leicester City Council’s headquarters to its 150 satellite offices across the city. The Ethernet-based virtual private network (VPN), provided by ntl:Telewest Business, will strengthen the Council’s business continuity capabilities, facilitate home working for staff and provide a better level of service to the community.

Leicester City Council, made up of 54 councillors and more than 15,000 staff, is responsible for providing a wide range of public services to Leicester’s 280,000 inhabitants. The Council’s four departments deal with specific areas of service delivery: adult and housing, young people’s services, regeneration and culture and resources. With an ever increasing number of services and a large council workforce catering for the citizens of the East Midlands’ biggest city, the Council’s existing network proved insufficient for its growing needs. Following a thorough tender process, a decision was made to replace the old leased line network with ntl:Telewest Business’ Ethernet VPN solution.

The new installation provides numerous benefits for both Leicester City Council employees and the community they serve. Staff located in offices across Leicester can now benefit from access to a high speed secure network, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively. In addition, Council employees have the capability to work remotely, safe in the knowledge that the network is completely secure and work can continue as usual, albeit off-site.

In terms of disaster recovery, the new implementation includes two physically separate fibre paths linked to the main sites, guaranteeing the fastest possible up-time should a line be inadvertently damaged.

“With 15,000 staff and a large number of sites, it is critical that our network has total resilience as our community rely on us to provide vital services,” said Peter Kay, Infrastructure Manager, Leicester City Council. “Our old 2Mbp connection could not provide us with the speed and business continuity capabilities we require and ntl:Telewest Business offered us the best solution at the best price. The revenue cost of our new 10Mbp network is significantly cheaper, meaning public money can be put to better use, and within four years we expect our investment to be paid back.” He continued: “ntl:Telewest Business has improved the way in which our staff work and ensured that our network is future-proof, capable of growing with the Council.”

Christopher Small, Director for Public Sector, ntl:Telewest Business said: “Leicester City Council provides the perfect example of the benefits of high speed connectivity. Council workers now have faster access to vital information and the community can rest assured that, in the event of a disaster, the Council’s services will be up and running as quickly as possible.”

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About Leicester City Council

Leicester City Council is a unitary authority serving the citizens, communities and businesses of Leicester, the biggest city in the East Midlands.

With 54 councillors and over fifteen thousand staff, the city council is responsible for delivering services to a diverse range of customers across Leicester.

More details are available at www.leicester.gov.uk

About ntl:Telewest Business

ntl:Telewest Business, part of the UK’s second largest fixed-line telecommunications company, is a leading communications provider to businesses, public sector organisations and service providers in the UK. It delivers a complete portfolio of voice, data and internet solutions nation-wide.

ntl:Telewest Business sales and support teams are located across the UK, in close proximity to our customers, as part of a commitment to deliver superior customer service.

ntl:Telewest Business delivers services over the Group’s £13bn investment in its state-of-the-art infrastructure giving business customers access to the largest alternative network in the UK.

ntl:Telewest Business is trusted to provide critical communications to high profile customers including: Heathrow's Terminal 5, Birmingham City Council and Cambridge County Council.

For further info go to http://www.ntltelewestbusiness.co.uk

ntl:Telewest Business press contacts:

Rebecca Tyrer, PR Manager
ntl:Telewest Business
Phone: 01256 754715
E: rebecca.tyrer@virginmedia.co.uk

Lucy Wimmer, Press Office
Rainier PR
Phone: 020 7494 6587
E: lwimmer@rainierpr.co.uk