PSN, the Public Services Network

Have you heard about PSN? Perhaps… but probably only if you’re part of the UK public sector IT community or one of the vendors interested in this market. So what exactly is the PSN? The UK’s Public Services Network (PSN) is a Government programme to unify the provision of network infrastructures across the UK public sector.
In essence it is a single logical network of interconnected physical networks, i.e. a "network of networks". Its prime objective is to substantially reduce the cost of communication services across UK Government and enable new, joined-up and shared public services, including many G-Cloud services.

The History of PSN

The origins of the PSN date back to 2005 whereby Communities of Interest (COI) envisioned data sharing across different Government departments when historically they had operated as wholly separate information silos. The initial Network of Networks strategy recommended the creation of specific networks joined together through data interchange gateways supporting common standards. By early 2007 a common vision was established for a single, commonly provided, procured and managed public sector voice and data network infrastructure to replace the multitude of separately procured and managed networks serving various segments of the UK public sector; Education, Health, Central Government, Local Government etc. By 2008 an Industry Working Group was established to document the objectives and requirements more clearly. Their report set out the architectural and commercial principles as well as anticipated security, service management, governance and transition arrangements.

Architecture

PSN comprises a core network (the Government Conveyancing Network or GCN) provided by GCN Service Providers or GCNSPs. The GCN interconnects multiple operator networks, termed Direct Network Service Providers or DNSPs. Subscriber organisations contract to a connection from a local participating DNSP, connect via that to GCN and hence onwards to other interconnected networks and services. The GCN network is entirely based on IPv4 and MPLS and the GCNSPs are not currently mandated to provide IPv6, though they should have a roadmap to implementing it if and when required.

Commercial Framework

In 2010 Virgin Media Business, BT, Cable & Wireless and Global Crossing signed Deeds of Undertaking (DoU) and subsequently achieved accreditation for providing GCN and IP VPN services. In March 2012, BT, Cable & Wireless, Capita Business Services, Eircom, Fujitsu, Kcom, Level 3, Logicalis, MDNX, Thales, Updata and Virgin Media Business were successful bidders for the initial two year PSN Connectivity framework.

Currently all UK central government departments will now be buying telecommunications services through two PSN frameworks currently being established by the Government Procurement Service.

Early implementations

Current examples of PSN Services include WANs, Broadband, Telephony Services, Videoconferencing Services, Secure Conference Services, CCTV, access to public and Government databases, data transfer via email, VPNs, etc.

Central Government

All major Departments are engaged in developing their roadmaps & plans to comply , connect and exploit PSN capabilities, with the “Big 6” being HMRC, MOJ, MOD, DWP, Health (NHS N3) and the Home Office (PSN in Policing). Other central government organisations moving towards PSN include Transport, BIS, DEFRA, Health, FCO, Education, DECC, DCMS, ECGD and the CPS, accounting for 90% of addressable PSN spend across Central Government.

Local Government

With some 350+ councils there has thus far been only limited uptake of PSN. Notable exceptions include Project Pathway, established as a pilot linking Hampshire’s and Kent’s county-wide networks, with Virgin Media Business and Global Crossing the subscriber and GCN network elements. Staffordshire County Council was also the first council in England to establish a PSN that included the county's NHS Health partners. Other county councils have since followed the leads of these councils.

Healthcare

Healthcare currently lies outside the PSN, with N3 being the current NHS national broadband network linking hospitals, medical centres and GPs in England and Scotland. N3 dates back to 2004 when BT won the initial contract to provide the N3 network; in 2007 it was upgraded to enhance critical data applications as well as enabled for voice and multimedia traffic. N3 is likely to be replaced by N4, with decisions about funding allocation and how it will work, alongside the PSN, to be made in January 2013.

What appears likely is that N3 (and N4) will eventually become PSN compliant but some in government are concerned that “compliant” will hinder the ability for local authorities and health to collaborate effectively.

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