Manx Telecom has won the contract to provide telecommunications services to the Isle for Man Government.
The announcement comes after a competitive tendering process which took place over several months, and involved a detailed review of the entire Government-owned Connect Mann network; the biggest of its kind on the Island, and one of the largest integrated eGovernment networks in the world.
Currently, Manx Telecom holds the contract, but the company fought hard to win it again.
"Although we were the incumbent," said Chris Hall, Manx Telecom Managing Director, "we were under no illusion that we would automatically retain
the contract.
"The entire bidding process was extremely rigorous; the Government is a sophisticated buyer of telecoms services and wanted value for money, especially in the current economic climate."
In order to ensure best value, the Government broke the contract into six parts and invited companies to bid for each one.
The new contract covers: mobile services and fixed lines (both of which can be reviewed and put up for re-tender after two years) and a fixed five-year duration for Internet access, Wide Area Network, Local Area Network, and software applications.
Manx Telecom won all six parts of the contract, and will supply a comprehensive range of telecoms and Internet services to over 230 Government sites throughout the Island.
The new contract involves several significant improvements. Manx Telecom has committed to a major capital investment programme which involves replacing copper wiring with fibre cables which will offer superfast broadband speeds – up to 1GB – across the network.
A new monitoring and reporting system is also being put in place, and the contract has stringent service level agreements to ensure performance meets agreed targets.
"I hope our track record of working with the Government and its ISD team to establish and develop Connect Mann has demonstrated that we are
committed to providing the Island with the best possible information communications technology," says Chris Hall.
"However, we wanted to go even further, and the new contract certainly offers enhanced services, at a lower cost.
"As important, it ensures that the Government and people of the Island get a world class communications infrastructure; one capable of developing and delivering enhanced public services in new and innovative ways."
Speaking for the Government, Allan Paterson, Director of Information Systems Division, noted that Government’s drive for continuous improvement in service delivery, combined with a constant challenge to ensure real value, has been achieved through this procurement process.
"The Isle of Man offers a unique opportunity to provide public service in a truly joined-up manner.
"The Connect Mann managed service provided by Manx Telecom has been a fundamental element in that," he says.
"I’m delighted that the new contract delivers further real savings and at the same time raises the performance and capacity of Government’s telecommunications network"”.
