Nearly 1,200 public sector sites across Greater Manchester are now connected to the GM One Network.

The GM One Network provides fast and reliable digital infrastructure for essential public services, with schools, community centres, fire stations and traffic control signals across Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Bury, Rochdale, Stockport and Oldham local authorities all signed up.

The Network provides a single active core network across GMCA with separate virtual networks for each organisation. The core network has a current backbone speed of 100Gb with a design that allows expansion and adoption of 400Gb and above speeds in the future.

GMCA has received over £3 million from the UK Government to increase the use of 5G services in the area through a 5G Smart Decarbonisation project focussed on improving social housing heating initiatives and road traffic flow improvements.

The network is provided by Telent, who worked with technology partner Cisco, on the design, build and management of the core network.

Cllr Nick Peel, digital lead for GMCA said: "I am thrilled to see our vital public organisations already leveraging and reaping the rewards of the world-class digital infrastructure that the GM One Network has to offer thanks to the accelerated roll out of its services by Telent.

“Our private sector partners have been invaluable in our ambition to fix the digital divide and provide Greater Manchester’s residents with the tools they need for reliable Internet connectivity.”

Malcolm Lowe, head of IS at Transport for Greater Manchester said: “The advanced digital services provided by the GM One Network are helping to unlock future technology opportunities to help create an efficient and effective integrated transport network, The Bee Network, for Greater Manchester.”