Kent County Council, one of the largest local authorities in the UK, has awarded Unisys an ITO contract worth approximately £32 million.

Under the terms of the agreement, initially lasting until late 2012, Unisys will create and manage a public information network and security service for the Council.

The contract, signed for an initial four years, forms part of the ongoing shared services initiative that has been spreading across the public sector since late 2006. It is hoped that the new system will enable cost-effective communications and collaboration among local government agencies, while providing new information services to residents.

The network will initially connect approximately 1,100 public sector establishments, including schools, council offices and libraries. The extra bandwidth the network provides will also mean that many primary schools’ capacity for internet access will double and there will be improved capabilities to support home, flexible and remote working within the county. The network will also be available to all public service bodies within the Kent boundaries wishing to join the alliance.

Paul Carter, leader of Kent County Council, said: “We expect that the benefits the network will bring in terms of collaboration, governmental linkage and common shared infrastructure will in turn result in enhanced public services for the people of Kent”.