Virgin Media is future supplier for LGfL

[arthur231283]

Just heard that Virgin Media is future supplier for LGfL . Click Here

[eejit]

Is this instead of Synetrix or for something else?

[eejit]

I bothered to read the PDF and it sure is. Wow, can't make up my mind if this is good or not

[mjs_mjs]

undertaken to ensure best value
in the future provision of broadband infrastructure for London schools.

- best value for what???

unanimous recommendation.

ummmmm what was the basis of this decision?

The anticipated termination of Harnessing Technology Grant, which has been key to the early
development of LGfL services for London, increases further the imperative to secure best value
for schools.

value for what for schools?

in the absence of grant, be funded by a supplement applied to
each school’s broadband charge in proportion to school size.

- so prices are going up.

[Edinlondon]

Hi All,

Just got the phone with an LA colleague. Here's what I understand.

The harnessing technology grant was being used by LAs to subsidise the connects and services provided by the lgfl. The government has pulled this money which meant schools would have to cover the cost via significantly increased prices. The lgfl then asked synetrix to do the best they could to reduce cost. They couldn't!

The lgfl then went out to get a new supplier (Virgin). Virgin will replace synetrix over the next two year. Primaries on 5mb will see a price rise but will be put on 10mb. I think everyone else will see a price fall. There will be improved speed and reliability. There will be more services as standard such as URL filtering based on the person and not the computer.

I think overall, this will be an improvement.

I asked about who made the decision and apparently children service directors, LA reps and head teachers made the decision.

[mattx]

Oh dear, can you imagine it when it all goes belly up ? Their customer service is complete and utter crap now !!

[AyatollahPies]

Some of us have to put up with both companies. :-(

[Edinlondon]

Oh dear, can you imagine it when it all goes belly up ? Their customer service is complete and utter crap now !!

Who's customer service? I think the LGfL support lines are quite good. Can't imagine we'll deal with Virgin direct.

[mattx]

Who's customer service? I think the LGfL support lines are quite good. Can't imagine we'll deal with Virgin direct.

Virgins customer service.

[Edinlondon]

Virgins customer service.

I image the LGfL will deal with them. After all I've never rung BT. I wonder whether it'll be the LGfL or Atomwide who will manage Virgin.

[SneakyBeaky]

Hampshire have also signed up with Virgin Media for their HPSN2. They have told schools that this will result in double the current bandwidth at the same or lower cost. Also the opportunity for the price to go down and addition of more services, more resilient, flexible filtering, central management. Futureclass Hosted Service to follow. Rollout for Hampshire schools begins April 2011.
http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hpsn2.htm

[psydii]

That's happened a bit quicker than I was expecting. And to be honest given that another vendor already has wires/fibre running to every site in london I'm quite suprised they couldn't put in the winning bid.

For those questioning VFM, don't forget that LGfL and the other RBCs are very much more than a pipe to the internet. If you choose not to extract maximum value from the contract that is your decision. (One I made previously elsewhere, however in these resource scarce days, I'm taking everything we can for the £16K)

Finally on the customer service front, we're all used to their retail brand. Given the ubiquity of the LGFL I doubt many London based NMs have had exposure to their Business arm. I'd be interested to hear from people who have used them for business grade connectivity.

[steves22]

We pay approx £7k pa for LGFL broadband at 10mbps. As far as I can see, the new rates for a secondary school like us with 1200 pupils will be approx £14k pa. That is a bit of a hike, do other schools see this?

[Edinlondon]

We pay approx £7k pa for LGFL broadband at 10mbps. As far as I can see, the new rates for a secondary school like us with 1200 pupils will be approx £14k pa. That is a bit of a hike, do other schools see this?

Hi Steve,

Thats because your local authority was subsidising (sp?) your connection cost with the (now scrapped) htg (harnessing technology grant).

£14k is still an excellent price for an uncontended line. Don't think you'll find cheap (and definitely not with the added services that the LGfL give you).