A new broadband network now connects all London councils, making the secure sharing of data more than a possibility.
Big broadband networks can be feasible, it seems. In London, the London Public Service Network (LSPN) has begun to give secure inter-borough connectivity between public service agencies. That’s a big step forward, especially as it uses connections already in existence. According to the LSPN’s site, “[It] utilizes the existing London Grid for Learning (LGfL) infrastructure but provides an initial 20Mpbs bandwidth reserved and prioritized solely for Local Authority business use.” However, good as the idea is, it won’t be cheap for the different participating councils. According to Kablenet.com, each one will have to ante up around $40,000 to join, then another $13,000 each year in maintenance and management fees. So far 27 of 33 councils have decided it’s worth the money, with 16 of them already online. The network also connects to the National Health Service and will soon be connected to the Government Secure Intranet
