North Yorkshire signs key network transformation deal

North Yorkshire Council today announced a deal for a new high-speed network that will support the transformation of its IT service delivery to a shared services model.

The authority has signed up BT to provide an Ethernet network infrastructure delivered over fibre or copper. Services for the new core network will be delivered through a joint public, private partnership called 'NYnet,' enabling public sector bodies at nearly 500 sites in the county to improve the delivery of services to its citizens and save money.

David Cullen, NYnet's chief executive, said: "As a result of this project we will be able to expand the reach of NYnet's services across the sub-region with the addition of 28 new points of presence - making 40 in total. This will significantly help us achieve one of our principle objectives; that is, supporting and enhancing the economic prosperity of North Yorkshire, while also improving the speed, reliability, security and future proofing of the virtual private networks (VPNs) to our customers."

The shared services model is designed to reflect government targets for increased local government efficiency, by providing network capability to NYnet's public service body customers more reliably and at a lower cost.

The intention is for all public sector bodies will be able to use the network as a means to share resources. For example, schools in the county will be able to share online seminars or IT applications used in teaching. In a similar way, bodies that regularly work together - for instance, the child protection services and the police - will be able to use the network to share access to common databases.

The deal is to be delivered by the public and private sector commercial venture created by the council with funding from Yorkshire Forward, the area's regional development agency and the Government Office for Yorkshire and Humber.

The authority also said the announcement represents the second phase of one of the largest public sector led, open access, broadband infrastructure initiatives. Phase one launched in 2006 and saw the enablement of all of the remaining ADSL exchanges in North Yorkshire, giving the sub region a broadband take-up rate that is higher than the national average.

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