Fibre optic deal increases PSN momentum

Under the DoU the company has committed its nationwide fibre optic network to the UK government to underpin the PSN. It is the second company sign a DoU, following Global Crossing's agreement earlier in November to provide the first Government Conveyance Network. The move takes the Cabinet Office a step closer to delivering the PSN. "Virgin Media Business has now become the second partner to sign a deed of undertaking to provide a fully compliant network 'interconnection' – the electronic highway that will span and connect the PSN," said John Stubley, the PSN programme director. "We have all worked very hard to get PSN up and running and it is extremely gratifying to see the foundations of the network now firmly in place." Virgin has had a dedicated PSN business unit working with the Cabinet Office over the past two years. It has already helped to provide a county PSN for the Hampshire and Isle Of Wight Partnership (HIOW). The PSN will provide a 'network of networks' for public sector organisations to securely share information with each other.