The UK government has appointed IBM to supply new network infrastructure and communications solutions for emergency services in the country, as part of the new Emergency Services Network (ESN). The deal is worth £1.6 billion, according to reports. IBM is understood to have beaten BT in the tender. A major chunk of the money (about 60 percent) will go to third-party suppliers, sub-contracted by IBM. These are Samsung Electronics, Ericsson, Frequentis, Exponential-E, and Palo Alto Networks.
The Home Office, responsible for the UK emergency services, awarded BT, along with its mobile operator business EE, a new £2 billion ESN contract before Christmas to upgrade national LTE/4G-based ESN coverage, as supplied by EE since 2015, to 5G – as well as to raise network performance in certain regions, and finish completely with the old TETRA (Airwave) network for first responders. BT had been expected to pick up this second ESN deal, also.
However, IBM’s submission, developed closely with Samsung, has been selected, and will see the US cloud and integration specialist lead a stable of tech suppliers to provide cloud and core network services, plus new collaboration software and tools for handheld devices. A statement from the Home Office referred to a “series of delays by previous suppliers”. The ESN upgrade is seven years behind schedule; it is now expected to be fully operational in 2026.
It said: “IBM will be responsible for leading the design, build and system integration of the ESN platform. Key to achieving this will be IBM’s delivery of IT infrastructure, which will be fundamental to ensuring improved and more efficient communication capabilities for mission-critical services.” It referenced “software for new handheld devices” to provide “data-sharing functions and real-time video features” for police forces, fire services, and ambulance trusts.
A report in Public Technology quoted a contract notice, which reads: “The… supplier will provide end-to-end systems integration (including interfaces and testing services) for the ESN including, but not limited to providing public safety communications services (including developing and operating the public safety applications), providing the necessary telecommunications infrastructure, user device management, customer support, and service management.”
Samsung, on behalf of Samsung Networks, issued a statement that heralded its “first major mission-critical project in the UK”, and made direct reference to its virtualized RAN (vRAN) and open RAN technologies. Ericsson did the same, and said IBM would make use of its core network and OSS/BSS products.
Source: https://www.rcrwireless.com/20250115/infrastructure/ibm-uk-esn-deal