Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is one of the UK city’s services that will benefit from a new communications network being implemented by digital infrastructure specialist Telent.
Traffic control signals will be among 1,300 public sites across the city-region to receive faster and more resilient data connections from the Greater Manchester (GM) One Network.
The company, working in partnership with Cisco for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, will assist with the design, build and management of the network, whose technology will be shared by groups such as TfGM and the Bury, Rochdale, Stockport and Oldham local authorities.
As well as traffic lights, GM One Network will also benefit many schools, community centres and fire stations, explained Jo Gretton, chief executive at Telent.
The core network is close to completion and has a current backbone speed of 100G. The design allows expansion and adoption of 400G and above speeds in the future on the current platform. This will support all public sector organisations in the region, with the first of the 1,300 locations being connected to the new network in early 2024.
There will be separate virtual networks for each organisation. GM One Network aims to provide cost savings – eliminating the need for individual networks and infrastructure services – and service improvements by streamlining systems and reducing duplication.
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority launched its Digital Blueprint for the city area earlier this year with the aim of creating a “world-class digital city-region”. The blueprint sets out many priorities including ensuring everyone in the region can, if they wish, safely access and benefit from the opportunities a digital environment brings, such as accessing relevant online public services.
It also commits to helping the residents of Greater Manchester become confident internet users. One of the key goals laid out in this framework was building out world-class digital infrastructure for the region and leveraging network assets across the public sector.
“I’m pleased to see continued collaborative work and the delivery of a multi-year social value programme for organisations and our people across Greater Manchester, through programmes like GM One Network,” said Nick Peel, who heads up the client’s Digital City-Region programme.
“This includes business mentoring, creation of apprenticeship opportunities and support for start-up businesses to build new products and services. The work Telent is doing in this space supports our aim to tackle the digital divide and will enable Greater Manchester to continue to grow as a world leading digital city region.”
Telent is a technology company specialising in the design, build, support and management of the UK’s critical digital infrastructure. Telent has a strong focus on key areas including transport, emergency services, network providers and the public sector. The company works with Transport for London, National Highways, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Ambulance Radio Programme, Virgin Media, Network Rail, Openreach and Merseyside Fire and Rescue.
