Scots sign IP network mega-deal

Fife Council is overhauling its voice and data network in a five year, £20m deal.

The new network is due to go live on 2 April next year, with Affiniti installing and managing a Cisco-based IP system, which will feature voicemail, unified messaging, hot desking and remote working options.

Previously, Fife's system lacked features such as voicemail and the standard line rental for each of its 10,000 phones was pushing up costs.

On the new IP network each council employee will now have a single contact number which will remain with them whether they work from home or move between departments.

Fife Council infrastructure services manager George Robertson said the new phone system will offer more flexibility in the way council employees work and how the citizens of Fife can contact them.

The council, Scotland's third largest local authority with 22,000 staff and 500 sites, is hoping the new network will save money on call costs by consolidating some office sites and via productivity improvements the new system will bring.