The contract involves replacing the existing WAN with full-fibre infrastructure that will provide businesses and communities across the county with access to high-quality and reliable connectivity.
Commsworld will deliver 262km of new fibre infrastructure, bringing new connectivity services to around 150 council sites. This will also allow FTTP access for more than 120,000 residential and business properties across the county.
Chris Thompson, director of information and technology, Northumberland County Council, said, “I'm delighted that we've been able to secure this deal. It will provide an easily upgradable connectivity boost across our council sites and bring huge social value to the county, helping to make Northumberland one of the best-connected counties.”
Bruce Strang, chief operating officer, Commsworld, said, “Commsworld welcomes securing this contract to replace Northumberland’s WAN network. This is our first major contract of this kind in England, having similarly delivered massively enhanced infrastructure to local authorities in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire and the Scottish Borders.
“We are looking forward to bringing the full, transformative benefits of our Optical Core Network to Northumberland. Through the network, and working with our partners – including forward-thinking local fibre providers such as Alncom – we can provide a step change in connectivity and resiliency right across the county, bringing huge benefits to all those who live, learn and work there.
“I have no doubt that the digital infrastructure we provide will benefit the whole of Northumberland.”
Commsworld’s Optical Core Network (OCN) will act as the ‘spine’ from which wholesale fibre broadband providers can branch out into towns and rural areas of Northumberland.