Channel players make cut on PSN framework

Host of familiar names among the 29 firms to win a place on big new network and comms public sector marketplace

A smorgasbord of channel players are among the 29 firms to be chosen as the government's chief network and comms providers.

Suppliers on the Public Services Network (PSN) were unveiled this week with VARs including 2e2, Azzurri, Computacenter, Logicalis, NextiraOne and SCC all making the cut. A full list of chosen suppliers is provided below.

The PSN infrastructure aims to implement a unified marketplace for technology and service providers to sell to customers across the regional and departmental breadth of the public sector.

The Cabinet Office claims that PSN-compliant kit and services that are already in use delivered savings of £64.2m to central and local government bodies in the 2011/12 year. According to documents on the Cabinet Office website, PSN is projected to deliver annualised savings of £500m within the next two years.

Francis Maude, minister for the Cabinet Office, claimed that his department has "passed a major milestone by establishing a competitive ICT marketplace at the heart of the public sector".

"The PSN will drive savings and efficiencies by removing duplicate network connections, providing simpler procurement and greater competition, and allowing public sector employees to work in more flexible, user-focused ways," he added.

PSN services suppliers
2e2
Airwave Solutions
Azzurri Communications
BT
Cable & Wireless Worldwide
Capita Business Services
Cassidian
CSC Computer Sciences
Computacenter
Daisy Communications
Easynet Global Services
Everything Everywhere
Freedom Communications
Fujitsu
Global Crossing
Icom Holdings
KCOM Group
Logicalis
NextiraOne
PageOne Communications
Phoenix IT Group
Siemens Communications
SCC
Telefónica UK
Telent Technology Services
Thales
Uniworld Communications
Virgin Media Business
Vodafone