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Largest multi-agency multi-sector group on a next-generation PSN in the UK
Eight organisations across councils, health services, police forces and further education colleges in Gwent choose PSBA as their secure, shared service public sector communications network.
Aneurin Bevan Health Board, Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council, Caerphilly County Borough Council, Coleg Gwent, Gwent Police Authority, Monmouthshire County Council, Newport City Council and Torfaen County Borough Council have worked together to jointly design and develop the Gwent Network Neighbourhood Design (GNND).
Led by the Welsh Assembly Government, PSBA is the UK’s first public cross-sector shared services network, and is managed and funded by the user organisations. PSBA is delivered as a managed service by Logicalis UK as part of a seven year contract with the Welsh Assembly Government.
The PSBA provides GNND members with high-capacity secure and scalable network connections across a range of connectivity options and is capable of delivering a full suite of voice, video and data services.
“This collaboration of the eight multi-sector public bodies has enabled the extension of the first PSN of this scale,” commented Steve Harding, Chairman of GNND, and Assistant Director Informatics for Aneurin Bevan Health Board. “There are other projects being developed in other locations but none that match the scale or ambitions of the GNND. Ultimately the network will provide the catalyst for significant change across current processes and organisations.”
The use of PSBA by the GNND group brings together the most diverse range of organisations in a single region, onto PSBA, with each benefiting from access to their own secure service environment. PSBA is designed to offer accredited secure communications services to public service organisations in Wales, with multiple security levels applied to meet individual needs. It demonstrates the suitability of public sector network services to drive collaboration between services and ultimately deliver efficiency savings across ICT and service delivery.
Harding continues, “The PSBA offers a national information and communications platform that meets the specific needs of the Welsh public sector, creating opportunities for collaborative working and information sharing that previously weren’t available on this scale.
“The GNND is the first regional consortium to take advantage of the economies of scale created by PSBA and provides a clear signal that Wales has built a next generation public service network that meets the requirements of all major agencies and public services.”
Gwyn Thomas, CIO, Welsh Assembly Government, states that with regards the future, “It’s pleasing to see that the formula that led to this success in Gwent is being applied across the public sector in Wales.”
Public sector employees at more than 2000 public service sites across Wales are already connected to PSBA and the figure is expected to rise to over 10,000 over the next few years as more organisations join. Eventually all 350,000 public sector workers in Wales – including home-based staff – will be able to access the network.
