Taxpayers will save hundreds of thousands of
pounds under a new contract between Sure, the new brand for Cable
& Wireless, and the States.
The 18-month contract covers both landline and
mobile services, and will see the States cut its current estimated
£450,000 a year telephone bill by around 40%.
Treasury & Resources Minister, Deputy
Lyndon Trott said that previously individual departments were
largely responsible for negotiating their own fixed and mobile
contracts. As a result, both Sure and Wave Telecom provided some
services.
However this arrangement was reviewed, and the
decision to use a single provider means that the States will
further reduce public sector costs.
“This is a great example of a co-operative and
joined up approach to improve service and ensure that we deliver
the best value for money,” said Deputy Trott.
Sure won a competitive tender for the contract,
and representatives from the various departments with
responsibility for telecommunications were involved in the
selection process.
In 2006 the States spent around £300,000 on
fixed line telephone services, and around £150,000 on mobiles.
Based on the same call volumes, taxpayers will save around £275,000
over the 18 months of the contract.
Currently, around 1,000 States employees across
the various departments have a work mobile phone, the vast majority
of them providing front line services. More than half are in the
Health and Social Services Department.
The new contract includes free calls between
States mobiles and to other Sure mobile customers, as well as to
local landlines. There is also volume discounts on fixed line call
charges.
Sure’s Channel Islands Commercial Director,
Gregory Jordan, said that the company had assessed the States
requirements, and put together an appropriate contract using its
existing pricing plans.
“For business solutions our focus has moved
away from the traditional customer-supplier relationship, and
instead we look to establish long-term strategic partnerships that
reflect the specific requirements of the customer,” he said.
“I think this particular contract is a prime
example of this approach and how it delivers more value to the
customer, and by extension all taxpayers will end up
benefitting.”