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The N3 Story

N3 is the NHS national broadband network linking hospitals, medical centres and GPs in England and Scotland and has replaced NHSnet.

In 2004, BT won the contract to provide the N3 network and became the N3 Service Provider (N3SP). N3SP is supplier agnostic, which means we ensure best value for money for the NHS by using a number of different suppliers to provide discrete segments of network services. N3SP draw all of the different services together and manage them on behalf of the NHS providing one single system. We have not only provided the network but we monitor and manage the service levels ensuring N3 is always available.

N3SP has come a long way since 2004, becoming more than a data network. In March 2007, N3 was voice enabled. 6-Layer QoS, a digital network management solution, was rolled out prioritising important data applications, voice and multimedia traffic allowing N3 to provide voice enhancements to the NHS. N3 provides the N3 Local Gateway Service, which enables free on-net calls between N3 voice users, reduced rate tariffs and access to mobile networks at nationally negotiated rates through the Fixed to Mobile Gateway Service. N3 Hosted Voice Service, which provides flexible and centrally managed IP telephony handsets and services, as well as offering the same free on-net calls, access to PSTN and competitive fixed to mobile call tariffs as the N3 Local Gateway Service.

N3SP delivers bespoke networking solutions and services for the individual needs of different NHS organisations. Some great examples of this are Community of Interest Networks (COIN). COINs geographically link adjacent surgeries, medical centres and hospitals over N3, the national broadband network for the NHS. Over 30% of the NHS estate is benefiting from better-integrated patient care and operational efficiency. Doctors and medical staff can share information and data quickly because COIN sites are securely interconnected with national computer centres. Whilst trusts are able to save money by running all their voice, video and data calls over a COIN.

N3 doesn't rest on its laurels. In June 2008 N3 began migrating 10,000 broadband connections from Datastream to IPstream. This migration programme takes advantage of newly available ADSL broadband technology providing performance and cost improvements to the NHS and demonstrates how N3 delivers flexibility to cater to future needs of the NHS. This programme is due to be completed in June 2009. 

N3 has achieved many key milestones in its 5 year history and it has become an award winning programme. In January 2009 N3 won the e-Government excellence: Innovation in strategy on a national level award. The award was for N3's Community of Interest Networks - which brings the health of the nation together. In April 2008 N3 won the Government Computing Awards for Innovation for ‘best project - government to government'. The award recognises a project that demonstrates effective joined up working between at least two organisations in the public sector: N3SP and the NHS working together on N3 - Connecting the NHS.  N3's most recent accolade is the 2009 Good Communication award for IT Partnership - demonstrating an effective partnership approach to delivering IT related services, and in turn better value to citizens.