Fife Council upgrades WAN to offer ultrafast broadband services

Fife Council has appointed Buckinghamshire-based managed network services supplier MLL Telecom to spearhead a major upgrade to its wide area network (WAN), underpinning its digital transformation plans and bringing ultrafast broadband services to public sector sites across the county.

MLL will replace the council’s existing WAN infrastructure with an enhanced 10Gb capacity core to increase its bandwidth availability, including 1Gbps broadband speeds for each secondary school in the county to support demand for cloud and internet services in education.

The firm claimed that the council could realise 25% cost savings over the term of the contract, which will also include a clear migration path to upgrade from copper to fibre over its lifetime.

“It is critical that we receive the right level of connectivity to meet our increasing digital needs,” said Fife Council CIO Charlie Anderson.

“The enhanced bandwidth will positively impact on many council services, particularly in education, where the increase in internet-based teaching has placed added pressure to upgrade our connectivity. This new contract with MLL Telecom will not only allow us to meet current demands for enhanced bandwidth, but will also help to support our future growth strategies.”

Alongside the WAN upgrade, MLL said it was planning to support a number of community initiatives around Fife. This will include support for science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (Steam) education at both primary and secondary level, apprenticeships for local residents, and providing service assistance for charities working in the area.

It also hopes to help Fife Council develop an internet of things (IoT) strategy to take full advantage of the upgraded network.

“As a resident of Fife, I am delighted that MLL Telecom has been chosen by Fife Council to deliver its new, upgraded WAN,” said MLL business development director Craig Scott.

“With the ever-increasing pressure on public sector budgets, connectivity is high on the agenda of public sector organisations, and councils such as Fife are recognising the value of enhanced connectivity for the delivery of public services, particularly in education.”

The contract will run for five years with options to extend by three, and then two further years if wanted. The initial transition is set to take place on 31 August 2019, with full completion by 1 September 2020.