KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – The design for the Government’s proposed communications network, GovNet, which is expected to result in greater interconnectivity and efficiency in the public sector, has been completed.

GovNet is to be a secure, wide area network communication infrastructure that will connect government ministries, agencies and departments to facilitate shared services, including data centre computing services (Gov-Cloud), consolidated voice communication system (Gov-Talk), consolidated email system (Gov-Email) and Gov-Internet.

It is envisioned that GovNet will facilitate the seamless transfer of information between government agencies and other stakeholders as well as provide on-line services to the public at minimal cost.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony for the GovNet design, today at the Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology in Kingston, Portfolio Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, said completion of the design is a major accomplishment, as it provides the blueprint for implementation of the project.

“GovNet is part of our 10-point information and communications technology (ICT) plan to improve the efficiency in government, not only within the different ministries, departments and agencies, but also the citizen-government relationship. We are at a point where we are ready to begin the actual work leading to the roll-out of GovNet. It is a significant step as it relates to building out a truly digital society and a digital Government,” he said.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Hillary Alexander, said GovNet is part of an overarching plan to move government services to a completely different level, “to integrate the various silos of Government, pull them together to be able to use data more effectively and, most importantly, to be able to provide better services to our citizens at more effective cost, and optimisation of investments we have been making over the years. This is a critical part of that whole architecture”.

The objectives of GovNet are: to reduce overall telecommunication costs for the Government; to improve communication across ministries and agencies; and reduce the transaction costs associated with the provision of public services and information.

The GovNet design is provided through International ICT management consultancy firm, DETECON International GmbH.