KBR WINS £1m+ CONTRACT FROM NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Published 17th June 2009

KBR IT & Networking Solutions Limited (KBR) has won the £1million-plus contract to deliver wireless access to over 200 schools throughout Northumberland. This is part of Northumberland County Council’s Wireless Networking Initiative to give over 40,000 children in the County access to mobile working.

The wireless network infrastructure also provides improved communication systems for teachers who can now manage the Curriculum, Personalised Learning Agendas and their admin 24 x7. Additionally, field-based staff now have the opportunity to access their email and personal applications with their usual login process wherever they are in the county.

Robin Price, Sales and Marketing Director, KBR said: “We’re delighted to have won this competitive tender and are confident that we will be able to assist Northumberland County Council in meeting its goals for the future. KBR has the largest number of Trapeze Networks certified engineers in the UK and we will work to ensure that this state-of-the-art wireless network maintains Northumberland County Council’s high expectations for County-wide mobile wireless connectivity.”

By the end of 2009 KBR will provide Northumberland County Council with enhanced system access for both teachers and pupils on a fully remotely manageable, secure and controlled wireless network infrastructure across the County. KBR will install a Trapeze Networks Wireless Mobility Solution, comprising over 4,000 mobility points, which provides multi-site roaming capabilities and controlled guest and public access without any compromise to the integrity of the extensive network.

Richard Taylor, ICT & eLearning Advisor, Children’s Services Directorate, Northumberland County Council said: “Our schools can range from 2 to 2000 pupils and we work with 40,000 children from infants to sixth formers. We required a comprehensive, managed enterprise wireless network capable of meeting our specification for a large number of devices in schools. It’s the future of education - one device per pupil - and we’ve already seen real growth in the number of netbooks, laptops and PDAs being used in schools. We work to Personalised Learning Agendas where all pupils can access their learning 24x7 and teachers can log on when in the staffroom or when out and about.”

He continued: “KBR provided the ideal solution for us with a balanced roll-out and their accommodating team has worked hard to deliver an extensive wireless network solution, with many efficiencies. We’re delighted that the Trapeze Networks infrastructure is intelligent enough to allow secure, resilient mobile working for Council staff, teachers and children of all ages County-wide.”

Mark Smith, Regional Director UK&I, Trapeze Networks added: “KBR is a long standing specialist in the area of internal and external WiFi. As one of our leading Master Resellers, KBR’s focus on the North East and their provision of localised services and support makes them the perfect partner for Northumberland County Council.”

Northumberland is the most northerly shire county in England and covers a large area from the Tyne and Wear conurbation to the Scottish Border.

About KBR IT & Networking Solutions Limited
Over the last 25 years KBR has built up an enviable public sector client base ranging from Local Government, schools, universities and healthcare to the emergency services with its innovative wireless solutions.

Based in Birtley, County Durham, KBR is a Master Reseller for Trapeze Networks and the company is further accredited by many of the world’s leading wireless vendors.

For more details please visit www.kbr.co.uk

Editors: for further information please contact:
Lindsay Spencer/Joy Manzanero, D4&CO
e: lindsay@d4andco.com
t: 01491 640940