Cable&Wireless to supply pan-Government intranet framework

Cable&Wireless (C&W) has been handed a contract to supply connectivity for a Government intranet to be shared across almost all departments.

The two-year agreement, with an option to extend for a further two years, will form part of the Government's Public Service Network (PSN) designed to improve processes across different parts of the UK administration.

The Government Secure Intranet (GSi) is already live but C&W will bring additional services, including a directory of civil servants, in the coming months.

The move over to the GSi Convergence Framework, which C&W will be supplying, is due to be completed in February 2012.

"Enhanced service levels will be in placed before March and enhanced services, such as the portal directory, will be delivered in late Spring of next year," C&W told IT Pro.

Any Government department that has complied with the Government code of connection and code of practice can connect to the GSi, where they are encouraged to share work or sensitive information with one another.

C&W will manage all of the new services as the Govenrment moves to a more cloud-based approach to IT.

The vendor will also host an applications resource centre called ARC. Small and medium-sized vendors will be able to offer their wares for shared services for the first time, C&W said.

Earlier this year, a Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) report slammed the Government for blocking out small and medium-sized suppliers in favour of bigger tech players.

"We are delighted to have signed this landmark deal with Cable&Wireless Worldwide," said Kenny Robertson, PSN delivery director.

"For us, this is about creating a secure, inclusive, efficient and cost effective framework that maintains business continuity for GSI customers and converges communications across government to PSN."

C&W declined to say how much the contract was worth.