Parliament on the hunt for pioneering data network

The Houses of Parliament need a partner to provide a state-of-the-art data network under a four-year contract that is set to commence in September this year.

The aim is to reduce the cost of ICT whilst connecting members and the public to data they need "anywhere, at any time and from any device" – and whoever is chosen to provide this managed service solution will end up with a contract worth over £3m.

Parliament wants a new wired and wireless data network designed and installed by their new partner – the network will provide all members, staff and visitors (to both Houses), with data and voice services.

The contract is to be spilt into two – so two vendors may be called upon. The first contract covers the data switch replacement, telephony system replacement, network access control, unified communications, Internet access and the convergence of other parliamentary networks.

The second is ‘simply’ for the provision of a managed wireless data network – including guest access.

Quite a contract for whichever supplier is chosen – Parliament will want value for money and the availability for future expansion without any issue, thus flexibility.

Did I mention Inatech supplies managed services?