Essex County Council will create a public service next generation network worth £81 million.

The network will be managed by the Daisy Group and Updata Infrastructure as joint venture group called Daisy Updata Communications.

Daisy Updata Communications will be involved in developing the network infrastructure over a 10 year period, established connectivity between public service bodies including councils, schools emergency services.

CIO at Essex County Council, David Wilde said: “We are absolutely committed to sharing services and collaborating with our partners and neighbours, and clearly the most cost effective way of doing that is across a shared infrastructure."