Vodafone is to invest €5 million in building a high speed fixed data network for the public sector, as the Government moves to make public services more efficient.

The new network is designed to speed up the implementation of cloud computing for Government departments and public sector bodies, allowing better access to shared services and applications.

The fibre-based high bandwidth network will run at speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, connecting the various departments and public sector agencies throughout the country.

The development of such a network and the resulting service that will run on it fulfils part of the Programme for Government and the Public Service Reform Plan, which identified information and communications technology as a key factor in improving the provision of public services.

“Currently Government departments and agencies operate on different systems and use different applications,” said Vodafone Ireland chief executive Anne O’Leary. “By building this connected network, it will be easier for the CIO and his team to simplify ICT provision across the public sector to deliver services that create more efficient working practices across government.”

The contract was awarded under a competitive public procurement process.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin welcomed the news.

“Cloud computing has the potential to radically change the nature of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provision in the public service and significantly reduce costs,” he said. “It is a key element of the strategic future of ICT in this sector.”

Vodafone plans to invest €5 million over the next three years to provide this infrastructure, but it is expected that some Government departments, including key locations and data centres, will be up and running on the new network by as early as the end of the year.