Telecommunications
Telecommunications within the healthcare sector In April, the companies agreed to provide confirmed NHS workers with the data, call and text access they need to offer remote consultations at no extra cost. This means that they have and will continue to upgrade the capacity to help change the way NHS workers’ broadband speeds as required government bodies and the wider public to facilitate remote work, sometimes sector communicate with – and for – at no extra cost, as well as improve the public they serve. By working with connectivity in care homes and supply fullcustomers, suppliers and industry bodies scale telecoms access to the emergency throughout its design and construction hospitals being built to combat the virus. we have arrived at an innovative With EE, for example, all that NHS workers solution which will drive successful have to do is register online with a valid transformation across government.” NHS email address to receive the new offer of unlimited mobile data for Telecommunications all NHS staff for the next six and coronavirus months, including those staff Companies such as BT, Networ already receiving discounts Virgin Media and Sky on their monthly mobile have committed Service k s 2 plans from EE. They’ll to support the h a s t he capa then receive a text NHS with its city to help ch message confirming increased need a n g e the w govern that the unlimited data for connectivity a m is on their account, as many essential the wid ent bodies a y nd er publ until 9 October 2020. services have commu ic secto In response to the E moved online. r n
Last October, the Network Services 2 framework went live, helping public sector bodies get the best deal on their telecommunications The new Crown Commercial Service agreement provides access to mobile, voice, video and data services including security and surveillance. It was designed with help from suppliers and customers across the UK, as well as through workshops hosted in partnership with trade body Innopsis and techUK. There are just shy of 100 suppliers, 58 per cent of whom are small and medium-sized enterprises. It will run for three years, with the option to extend by a further 12 months. The agreement offers customers a range of primary and ancillary services, including: voice and data provision; internet access; Wi-Fi; radio; security and surveillance; audio and video conferencing; equipment; and maintenance and support services. Ieuan Trigger, Deputy Director for Technology ate the Crown Commercial Service, said: “Network Services 2 has
and for icate with – – th they se e public rve
Issue 20.2 | HEALTH BUSINESS MAGAZINE
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