The Ocean Programme was initiated in January 2008 to:

• Procure successor services, and enhancements, to those currently delivered by the GSi, Mts and FTN contracts,
• Source complementary cross-government communications services and IT solutions; and
• Support the development and implementation of the Public Sector Network (PSN).

In defining the programme, it became clear that Ocean is not just a "new for old" replacement but an opportunity to benefit from fewer technologies. It is not just about central government departments but all public sector bodies. This in itself means that Ocean must appeal to local government in offering products and services as well as central government departments.

To accommodate these objectives Ocean will incorporate basic service through to managed shared services - all PSN compliant, where applicable. This is to ensure Ocean is inclusive of all major government customers.

Ocean's scale and scope is a challenge in itself, and this is reflected in the strategy that has been adopted, especially the approach to the contract and sourcing strategy.

Since Ocean's inception, the thinking has evolved as has the PSN concept. This will undoubtedly continue as solutions are outlined and commercials discussed.

Transition of existing contracts to Ocean

The current services provided by GSi, Mts and FTN will transition to successor services provided under the 4 Ocean Frameworks:

• Network Services
• Voice Services
• Video, Data and Ancillary Services (VDA)
• Service Management and Integration (SMi)

Transition Timescales

The contracts for the three legacy services have a large degree of commonality, all needing replacement during the period 2010-2012. Indicative timescales for the transition are as follows:

Approx transition periods for successor services:

FTN -  9 months

GSi - 18 months

Mts - 24 months

New service transition completion dates:

FTN successor - end 2010

GSi successor - Feb 2012

Mts Successor - Dec 2011

Complementary Services

In addition to the replacement of existing telecommunications services under the Ocean Programme, service providers will also be required to offer innovative, new, cross-government services such as unified communications and mobility solutions.

The Ocean Programme is intended to facilitate and drive Public Sector Newtork (PSN) compliant network services for government. Ocean will, in helping to implement the PSN, seek to reduce the high costs and inflexibility associated with the multiplicity of network services that exist across the public sector today.

The PSN is a new approach to data and voice communications for the public sector. It will utilise new and existing networks to create 'the effect of a single network', delivered by multiple service providers – 'private network of networks'. The PSN will include: