All 33 London Boroughs Migrate To Government Public Services Network

London has become the first region in the UK to connect all of its local authorities and services to the Public Services Network (PSN), which it is hoped will save the public sector hundreds of millions of pounds through shared services.

All 33 London Boroughs have migrated to the LondonPSN, which is powered by Virgin Media Business and coordinated by the London Grid Ltd, which aims to drive down the cost of services and content for schools and other local authorities.

The network provides local government organisations with access to the Department of Work and Pensions, the Government Secure Intranet service and the Department of Health N3 service, while it is hoped that borough councils will be able to share data and costs for services.

London PSN

The LondonPSN should also improve efficiency and allow staff to work more flexibly, resulting in the expected savings the government hopes it will achieve.

“It’s been fantastic to see the momentum this project has gained since we kicked off last year,” says John Jackson, CIO for Camden Council. “I am particularly excited by the potential for savings which a shared service of this magnitude could bring. Experience to date indicates a cost reduction of between 25 and 75 percent is deliverable for products and services delivered in this way which, depending on how we develop London PSN as a shared service, could top a billion pounds over the next decade.”

Virgin Media Business won the contract for the LondonPSN in 2011 and is one of 29 suppliers providing IT services to the PSN. It claims the digitalisation of public services could save the taxpayer up to £500 million.

“Creating one single network for London councils is a huge step in the right direction towards a truly connected capital,” adds Mario Di Mascio, Executive Sales Director at Virgin Media Business. “Bringing these boroughs together is not only bringing huge cost savings, but is ensuring that for the first time Londoners can benefit from a completely connected city and its streamlined services.”

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