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Network NI

The ‘Network NI’ programme will ensure that the Northern Ireland Civil Service’s (NICS) demands for wide area networking services (WAN) are delivered in a joined-up manner and will play a key role in the Government’s modernisation agenda.

Aims

The overall aim of the Network NI project is to put in place a contract to provide network services for the NICS and to provide an option for C2K (formerly Classroom 2000) to avail of the services at a time that meets their business needs. This approach should ensure that the maximum value can be gained from joined up network services in the shortest time while ensuring better value for money and a level of usefulness and flexibility that would not be attainable by individual Departments working in isolation. The network services provided through this project will facilitate additional applications, such as Voice over IP (VoIP) and video conferencing.

Why?

Without a co-ordinated approach to telecommunication services for data, voice and video, the NICS will continue to purchase such services in a piecemeal fashion, which often results in duplication, even within the same building. Although the existing facilities have been effective in solving the problems of individual Departments, they have not been designed with a planned NICS-wide architecture in mind. This results in not only lost opportunity in terms of better value for money but poses difficulties when different parts of the NICS wish to collectively work together and can result in a loss of opportunity to leverage each other’s capabilities and delivery channels.

Requirement

The NICS requires fully developed, scalable and coordinated NICS-wide telecommunications services if it is to meet the expected demands arising from large projects and initiatives such as Accountancy Services Project (ASP), Electronic Document and Record Management (EDRM) and Workplace 2010. Without the establishment of reliable, scalable, and managed network services, the chances for successful implementation of most future projects are significantly reduced and some may not be possible due to inadequate capacity and lack of network performance. This initiative will deliver predictable and manageable bandwidth to key applications in order to ensure that response times meet users expectations.

Expected benefits.

Some of the benefits of adopting a strategic approach to public sector networks include :
  • support for the implementation of key initiatives in the public sector,
  • achieves value for money,
  • offers increased flexibility to build in additional services as they become available,
  • provides scalability,
  • lower operational costs over the long term,
  • maximise network uptime and availability through real-time end-to-end proactive management,
  • increases productivity through the use of applications based on converged networks,
  • provides an opportunity to address ownership and charging in a flexible and cost effective way.

Current Status

The contract for Network NI was awarded to Eircom on 18th September 2007. This contract will see NICS telecommunications networks completely overhauled and modernised within the next 2 years - with some 275 sites scheduled for upgrade in a series of 3-month phases. Implementation will also ensure that the service is fully maintained and supported over the next 6 to 10 years.
Phases 1, 2 and 3 are successfully implemented. All 275 NICS locations are scheduled for connection by mid September 2009.