Level 3 named as strategic network supplier for government agencies

Level 3 Communications has been named as one of the strategic suppliers to the PSN Connectivity Framework

Network services company Level 3 Communications has been named as one of the strategic suppliers to the PSN Connectivity Framework, the government's procurement channel for public-sector agencies wishing to buy certified communications and encryption services.

Level 3's service was added to the PSN Connectivity Framework following a certification process.

The PSN Connectivity Framework is intended to save the government £130m each year by providing the public sector with an efficient procurement route for services delivered via the Public Services Network (PSN). It consists of a range of local and wide area networking services in a framework that ought to suit the varying capacity, security and performance needs of different public sector departments and agencies.

"As an existing GCN [Government Communication Network] service provider and certified IP-VPN supplier, we have been deeply committed to PSN since its inception. We were one of the first to receive certification for our services last summer and were also responsible for the first PSN deployment through the Pathway Project, an initiative that saw Kent and Hampshire County Councils link up to the PSN," said Jeff Parris, senior vice-president of public sector sales for Level 3.

He continued: "PSN not only has the potential to save the public sector a significant amount of money, it will also bring real benefits to civil servants - allowing access to new services and a more collaborative way of working. Ultimately, these benefits will be passed on to citizens, and they will experience a more interactive, digital and connected public sector."

Level 3's solution will enable customers to operate more efficiently and more securely as they can flex the network requirements between "impact levels" on demand, maximising the use of the physical connection and only paying for the capacity required. It will also enable public-sector organisations within the same building to share the same connection, but with their own virtual circuit, while home workers and satellite offices can access the network over the public internet via secure tunnels.