Network sharing resource centre

The "PSN" Public Service Network

The Public Service Network (PSN) will create a Virtual Private Network (VPN) through which individual networks can connect to share information securely with each other. Its aim is to 'increase integrity and ensure continued availability to facilitate the exchange of information, whilst ensuring the data is safe.' It will not provide any infrastructure itself.

Networks such as the Kent Public Service Network, Hantsweb, JANET and N3 will all be able to connect. Within the PSN, the GCN (Government Conveyance Network) will provide the connectivity for all the member networks, the 'glue' between networks.

For more information on the codes of conduct and how Local Authorites will be able to join the PSN, visit our Network Sharing Resource Centre.

Government Connect Secure Extranet (GCSx)

GCSx is a secure private WAN for public bodies. This is part of the wider GSi (Government Secure Intranet).

The GSi will be replaced by the PSN, and so GCSx will migrate to PSN services. As with GCSx, public bodies will have to comply with a code of connection to be entitled to use services over the PSN.

How MLL Telecom enables network sharing

MLL Telecom provides network sharing at the infrastructure level - like the PSBA and KPSN. We build networks that allow schools, fire stations, hospitals and the like to share the same routers, switchers and infrastructure but within this have their own VPN. By ensuring secure networks and fair usage of the network, this form of network sharing can cut costs considerably.

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU) & Ethernet First Mile (EFM)

10Mb/s connections delivered with EFM can deliver savings of over 50% compared with fibre alternatives.

Local Loop Unbundling, also know as Ethernet First Mile (EFM) is ideally suited to communities of users that are concentrated in one area, such as a county or town.

Local Loop Unbundling involves using unbundled copper pairs from a telephone exchange, and depending on the number of copper pairs used it typically provides between 10Mb/s and 40Mb/s using EFM technology. 10Mb/s connections delivered with EFM can deliver savings over 50% compared with fibre alternatives.

Read more about LLU and EFM here.

How a county-wide PSN shared network can save costs and improve service

In any given county or unitary authority are there are many separate networks for different public sector bodies - for example: Police, Schools, Libraries and the like. Local Authorities facing the combined challenge of finding significant cost reductions at the same time as meeting the ever-increasing demand for network bandwidth can meet these two opposing demands by creating a single county-wide shared network which can be used by many public sector bodies.

Such networks have been built already, typically covering several hundred locations right across a county. Sharing the network securely eliminates duplication of costs and by combining budgets you can build a carrier-grade shared network with much higher capacity and resilience than the individual networks it replaces.

The technologies behind public sector shared networks

A well-designed county-wide shared network, usually reaching over 500 locations and using more than 1000 links, will make use of different technologies and network media to provide the best reliability and capacity and deliver that to any location, no matter how remote. These will usually include fibre, BT circuits, Ethernet First Mile (EFM) using Local Loop Unbundling and microwave links. Selecting the right technology for every network link will ensure your network is of the highest quality for the optimal cost. That's why it's important to speak to a network partner that's not tied to one technology or network.

How to make sure your shared PSN network is robust & reliable

One concern that public sector bodies have is that by adopting a shared network, they worry about putting all their eggs in one basket. With a well-designed network, you need not worry - a shared network designed by a network-independent partner will have much higher capacity and resilience than the separate networks it replaces. By selecting just the right network technology and media for every link, your network could achieve failure reconvergence of under a second.

It's essential to choose a partner with well thought-through backup - a 24x7 engineer-staffed Network Operations Centre (NOC) could mean half of all faults are fixed within an hour with a good provider. In addition, if your network partner has their own engineer field force, rather than using contractors, then you could see even the toughest on-site problems fixed in just a few hours, all with the minimum of intervention needed from you.

Making sure your shared network is secure and compliant

Designing encryption and traffic separation directly into the network makes it is ready for the PSN, GCSx and secure network sharing without the need for modification. By sharing the network, public sector bodies in your county or authority area can benefit from increased performance and better access to central resources at the same time as reducing costs.

By selecting a technology and media independent network partner, you can be sure that the network is structured and secured just how you want it - a vital benefit when you must win the support of several public sector bodies to share in the network to achieve the cost savings you need.