03 Apr 2008
Minister celebrates completion of Network NI milestone
The second phase of a multi-million pound investment in the public service’s NetworkNI Project was completed today.
Speaking at the opening of the Eircom NI network Operation Centre in Belfast, Finance Minister, Rt Hon Peter Robinson MP MLA said:
“The work being carried out on the NetworkNI project is proof positive that the Northern Ireland public sector is committed to modernisation and reform.
“Eircom NI and the other key partners in this important project, are playing a critical role in helping the Northern Ireland Civil Service build a modern workplace infrastructure. It makes sense for the public sector to connect with the private sector to develop large-scale projects of this nature.
“By doing so, we are able to facilitate a co-ordinated telecommunications service aimed at meeting the requirements of individual agencies and departments in up to 280 sites across Northern Ireland.”
Mr Robinson said he was pleased that this particular milestone was reached on time and on budget. Thanking those most closely involved with the NetworkNI Project he added that he looked forward to full completion of the scheme by September 2009.
“This multi-million pound investment in the NetworkNI project promises to deliver a world-class, joined-up broadband solution, simultaneously capable of carrying voice, video and data traffic.
“I am confident that when completed in 2009 the Northern Ireland public service will have at its disposal a state-of-the art facility fully able to meet current and future business needs as well as the developing requirements associated with our key reform projects.”
Notes to Editors:
- The Network NI project was launched in early 2006 to purchase, through an aggregated approach, broadband services for the NICS. It has been designed to replace the existing Departmental-based wide area networks with a single supplier managed network and will ensure that NICS requirements for broadband services are delivered in a joined-up manner to meet ‘line of business’ needs and those of key reform projects such as Records NI, Workplace2010, HR Connect and Account NI.
- When complete, the Network NI solution will be capable of carrying voice, video and data traffic simultaneously and will ensure that state-of the art secure, scalable and reliable network services will be available.
- The contract was awarded to Eircom NI on 18 September 2007 and the project will be implemented over 8 phases with a planned completion date of 18 September 2009. The service contract will run for 6 years with options to extend to 10 years.
- Work on phase one completed at the end of January 2008 with the installation of circuits and hardware by Eircom at the 16 phase one sites. Installation of circuits and hardware at the 26 phase two sites are scheduled for completion by the end of March 2008.
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