Business ISP Commsworld Win £35m Glasgow City Network Contract

Edinburgh-based UK business ISP Commsworld has this morning announced that they’ve secured a new contract worth £35m+ over 5-years to provide network services to Glasgow City Council (GCC) in Scotland, which forms part of an effort to upgrade from the council’s “ageing legacy networks” to fibre optic and 5G services.

The internet provider has already delivered a strong range of services, such as a new Wide Area Network (WAN) of “ultra-fast, pure-fibre connectivity that transformed the city’s schools, libraries and other council buildings“. But under the new deal they now have responsibility for the City’s Local Area Networks, Wi-Fi, firewall and security and remote access, to add to its delivery of a robust WAN solution and IP telephony.

In total, it previously provided 525 WAN connections, connectivity to a 500-seat contact centre, and linked up all the council’s 18,000 phones on one unified network, delivering resilient, high-speed internet connections of up to 10Gbps to all sites, while completing the project four months ahead of schedule.

Commsworld also secured a £5.8m digital single supplier contract until 2030 to install, manage and support a scalable and flexible full fibre network to support the delivery of CCTV and traffic control services across Glasgow. This network is said to be “on track to be delivered this year.”

The company has also provided connectivity for a number of high-profile Glasgow events. These include fan zones for Euro 2020, TRNSMT and the World Pipe Band Championships, as well as seamless WAN, LAN and Wi-Fi connectivity for the UCI Cycling World Championships, an 11-day super-event held for the very first time in the city as well as throughout Scotland.

Cllr Paul Leinster, Chair of the Digital Glasgow Board, said:

“Digital technology underpins every part of the city’s Strategic Plan – and our new Digital Glasgow Strategy will be hugely important in supporting us to reduce poverty and inequality in our communities, increase opportunity and prosperity for citizens, secure a just transition to net zero and deliver innovative and sustainable public services.

The next few years will also see major changes in how the council’s own ICT needs are met. The signing of this contract is a really significant step on that journey – and I’m pleased Glasgow is partnering with a leading Scottish company like Commsworld.”

Steve Langmead, CEO of Commsworld, said:

“We are delighted that Glasgow City Council has awarded Commsworld this contract, one of the largest in our history. It comes at a significant moment for Commsworld, as it is the 30th anniversary since the company was founded.

By awarding us this new contract, Glasgow City Council has voiced a real vote of confidence not only in the work we have delivered for many years, but in the high-quality service which we provide with our key partners.

We look forward to continuing this relationship so that more than ever before, the citizens who live and work in this great city can benefit from the best cutting-edge technology available today, technology that leads to better data-driven decision making and more targeted, quality services.”

The new contract adds to Commsworld’s existing reputation for supplying network services and school connectivity to local authorities throughout both Scotland and England, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, the Scottish Borders, Dundee and Northumberland.