Kcom’s strength in PSN roll-outs cited as key factor

London, 2 April 2012: Kcom, the leading managed service communication provider, today announced that it had been selected to build the core network infrastructure for the East Midlands Public Services Network (PSN).

The East Midlands PSN (emPSN) will deliver significant cost savings, alongside capacity and service level improvements, through the transformation of the existing embc network. Once established, it will also enable them to take advantage of economies of scale particularly as more local partners join. The emPSN will increase the reach of high capacity broadband networks and services, especially in rural areas, as well as increasing the availability from suppliers in all areas.

As well as being selected to build the core network, Kcom has been awarded positions on the emPSN Framework Agreement including the provision of Access Services and, in partnership with RM, the supply of Application Services.

Mike Kendall, Managing Director emPSN said: “Kcom’s track record in PSN implementation as well as our previous work in establishing the current embc network meant that we were confident in their ability to provide a first class PSN implementation which all Public Sector bodies in the East Midlands will be able to take advantage of. We undertook an extensive procurement process and Kcom’s proposal, expertise and commercial arrangements were the most compelling.”

Whilst initially, the priority is to ensure that the embc schools transition to the emPSN successfully, the framework is designed to cover a much wider set of Public Sector needs. A number of local public sector bodies are looking to use the network for their connectivity requirements in the future, starting with Lincolnshire County Council and their partner District Councils.

The network transformation is timed to coincide with the expiry of the current embc contract on 31 October 2012. The embc currently provides services for the schools in the East Midlands area through its prime contractor Synetrix - Capita. Kcom works in partnership with Capita to supply the current embc connectivity infrastructure. With the contract up for renewal in October the embc organisation took the decision that there were greater benefits to be had for the local public sector as a whole from implementing a PSN instead of just retendering the school network. After a competitive dialogue tender process Kcom was awarded the contract to supply the core network.

emPSN are keen to ensure that the regional PSN is a marketplace providing [other] end users with the opportunity to competitively procure access services and applications. As a result Kcom will offer a range of Access Services for schools to provide safe and secure, robust, easy to upgrade services for a range of bandwidths together with RM’s Application Services including email, filtering, web hosting and education portal.

“The East Midlands PSN project is a great example of the pragmatism that we’re seeing currently in the Public Sector. Creating a PSN instead of simply renewing existing single purpose contracts is a fantastic way of enabling more shared services across the whole public sector, improving service delivery by enabling more consistent and innovative communication and collaboration and ultimately saving money,” commented Afshin Attari, Director Of Public Sector & Public Services Networks at Kcom. “We look forward to helping new East Midlands based partners to join the network and enabling them to take advantage of the reduced costs which will only get cheaper as more partners join.”