Cost of Internet for Schools

[padams]

Hi

 

We have been quoted around £14,000 to renew our Internet, Emails and filtering through the local authority. This seems very expensive to me for a 10 Meg line. What do others think, would be grateful for any feedback?

 

Thanks

Peter

[Abaddon]

Sounds about right for a Grid for Learning connection. We had only the connection at 20Mb for similar money, as we host all the rest internally.

[Guest Guest]

Ours is £16k for the same but with 100mb pipe to county/RBC, but around 10mb to the internet. I believe primaries get the same but with 10mb for around £10k

[bodminman]

We're with BT and pay £8k per year for a 10mb connection. On top of that we use Smoothwall.

[tom_newton]

Prices vary wildly with geography - but it would certainly be worth talking to a few ISPs, that's the only way you'll know for sure.

[matt40k]

We're with BT and pay £8k per year for a 10mb connection. On top of that we use Smoothwall.

 

100MB on NGN isn't?

[localzuk]

If we were paying direct with an ISP like BT we'd be paying about £12.5k just for the fibre connection, then we'd have to provide filtering, email, etc...

 

With our LEA we pay about £4k for a 10Mbit line, as they top slice funding for the rest.

[sparkeh]

If we were paying direct with an ISP like BT we'd be paying about £12.5k just for the fibre connection, then we'd have to provide filtering, email, etc...

 

With our LEA we pay about £4k for a 10Mbit line, as they top slice funding for the rest.

 

Just wondering if you know what the true cost of your connection is?

I am interested as we are in same position and top slicing means you are really paying a lot more, just wondered if your LA reveals the true cost?

[localzuk]

Just wondering if you know what the true cost of your connection is?

I am interested as we are in same position and top slicing means you are really paying a lot more, just wondered if your LA reveals the true cost?

 

Nope. We don't get told the true cost.

[sparkeh]

Nope. We don't get told the true cost.

 

Figures.

This is what really annoys me, how are we supposed to make best value procurements when we can't make reasonable comparisons against a range of suppliers?

[localzuk]

Figures.

This is what really annoys me, how are we supposed to make best value procurements when we can't make reasonable comparisons against a range of suppliers?

 

The thing is, there's no way for us to get best value from anywhere else due to the way the pricing is done - ie. If we don't go with the LEA, we don't get whatever money they spend on the connection back, we just don't pay the £4k that we pay normally.

 

It means, effectively, that we're tied to the LEA as there is simply no way we can justify the exta £8k spend.

[pete]

Nope. We don't get told the true cost.

 

So make a FOIA request?

[localzuk]

So make a FOIA request?

 

Why? So they can say 'sorry, that is commercially sensitive information' and refuse it?

[bodminman]

We're in a 4 year deal with BT for this bugger!

 

One year down 3 to go!

[pete]

Why? So they can say 'sorry, that is commercially sensitive information' and refuse it?

 

They don't get to decide that it's commercially sensitive and if they do attempt to use that exception, they have to show how they've balanced that against benefit of disclosure. They're .gov.uk - how they spend our money is a matter of public record and Suffolk (for example) answered in full a FOIA request asking about ICT contracts, including broadband costs and providers in August 2010 (http://www.suffolk.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/639EC1B6-4DB7-4ED7-B671-8B8A5C78D347/0/August2010FOIDisclosureLog.pdf - page 3 or 4) so there's your precedent.

 

If it's not commercially sensitive for them, it isn't for Somerset, who make a top-level breakdown of the budget available here: SAP NetWeaver Portal. It's simply a case of ensuring the request gets to a person who knows they can't just blow off the request and/or complaining to ICO if they do.

[Sylv3r]

With the demise of the Harnessing Technology funding next year we are actively looking for cheaper providers for our Broadband.

 

Currently we pay £19.7k for a 10mbit non filtered feed from our local authority. I have figures from both Easynet and BT for cheaper faster connections - which we will seriously consider implementing for an April 2011 launch as it does not make sense financially to pay more for a reduced connection.

[oxide54]

Figures.

This is what really annoys me, how are we supposed to make best value procurements when we can't make reasonable comparisons against a range of suppliers?

 

thats education for you??? PFI Buildings anyone??

 

anyways sorry to be ignant but what does top slicing mean? does it mean they give you less budget so in turn you have to pay less of your budget back to them to pay for the service?

[localzuk]

thats education for you??? PFI Buildings anyone??

 

anyways sorry to be ignant but what does top slicing mean? does it mean they give you less budget so in turn you have to pay less of your budget back to them to pay for the service?

 

Yep, that's it.

[jgcracknell]

Nope. We don't get told the true cost.

 

Freedom of Information request me thinks!

[localzuk]

Freedom of Information request me thinks!

 

As I said, its unlikely to result in a figure - as it would be commercially sensitive information.

[jgcracknell]

As I said, its unlikely to result in a figure - as it would be commercially sensitive information.

 

If the Con-Dem quango get their way - then all this will be in the public domain. Right down to the free biscuits you get with a meeting.

 

As for Suffolk refusing the FOA - no comment. You could take it to the Information Commissioner, but as all Local Authorities are in the process of redundancies they are not going to tell you what they spent money on because they could be used in employment law.

[GrumbleDook]

Some information is not commercially sensitive to the council / RBC but to the supplier and can be related to discussions taken during negotiation of the contract. As this would then mean some information comes under procurement regs then yes, you will find that some information is commercially sensitive as it is related to staffing, particular negotiations the supplier has done with their sub-contractors and so on.