11 December 2019
The BCP Council logo
MLL Telecom, a provider of secure managed network services for the UK public sector, has been chosen by BCP (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) Council to overhaul and consolidate its existing network infrastructures. 
The firm will work with the recently created unitary authority—which is made up of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole councils respectively—to deliver a unified, resilient and secure network solution.
This project will see MLL Telecom replace several incumbent providers to consolidate three separate wide area networks (WANs), totalling 83 sites, into a single unified one. The aim is to enhance network capacity and support a number of new services and solutions, including migration to Office 365, deployment of Skype for Business, and cloud-first programs based on Microsoft Azure. The network overhaul is expected to futureproof BCP Council’s digital strategy and help it improve business efficiency and service delivery.
MLL Telecom will complete the overhaul of the existing WANs using a combination of CityFibre and Openreach’s circuits. The project will also see BCP Council benefit from MLL Telecom’s existing presence in,and knowledge of the region. It was recently chosen by Portsmouth City Council to provide connectivity services on the new Solent Network framework, and is also providing access to the Health and Social Care Network (HSCN) for the hospitals, GP practices and other NHS sites in the region.
“Following our merger with Poole and Christchurch back in April, we have recognised the need to re-assess our current connectivity solutions," said Marc Biondic, IT infrastructure manager, at BCP Council. "Three local authorities coming together combined outdated legacy infrastructure that simply wasn’t able to meet our needs We’re excited to be embarking on this project with MLL Telecom to futureproof our connectivity needs and underpin our digital growth strategy.”
Jeremy Wastie, regional director, MLL Telecom added: “The South is proving to be an exciting region for network innovation and transformation. The BCP Council merger is a clear example of why it is key to continually assess connectivity solutions. We are delighted to be helping BCP Council to do exactly that and see its network infrastructure support its services for the long-term.”
The first phase of the project is expected to be completed in March 2020.
