The PSBA Network Wins 'e-Government Excellence: Shared Services' Award

Celebrates Effective Services and Efficiency Gains in Public Sector

CARDIFF, February 15, 2011 - Ministers have welcomed the award to Wales' PSBA (www.psba.org.uk/
) network, the UK's first public multi-sector network, of the 'e-Government
Excellence: Shared Services' at the e-Government National Awards 2010
(www.e-governmentawards.co.uk/), for its work delivering effective
services and efficiency gains in the public sector.

Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, Deputy First Minister of Wales and Minister for the
Economy and Transport, commented: "The Public Sector Broadband Aggregation is
creating a nationwide communications service and we welcome any efforts to
help deliver our ambitions for a world leading digital economy for Wales.

"Digital technology of this kind provides a platform for innovation - a
catalyst for cooperation that helps the process of economic renewal and our
recovery from recession. I congratulate all involved in this major
achievement, including our strategic delivery partner, Logicalis."

Minister for Business and Budget Jane Hutt said: "The PSBA now delivers
secure broadband communications to more than two thousand locations across
Wales. That means it covers the major offices of every one of our 22 local
authorities, every doctor's surgery and hospital, and every university and
college.

"We are proud that this is the UK's first public multi-sector shared
services network - showing how we are using devolution to pioneer new ways of
delivering joined up services and getting the very best value for people's
money, an aim that is even more important at this time of Treasury-enforced
cuts."

Presenting the Awards personally on the night, Minister for the Cabinet
Office, Francis Maude said:

"Tonight's winners show why this country is at the very forefront of
e-government delivery and as we push forward with our important modernising
public services programme, digital technology will continue to play a crucial
role in driving better services, while lowering costs.

"I would like to congratulate everyone who has taken part for their hard
work, skill and imagination. Tonight clearly demonstrates enormous progress
and it's this kind of progress we are committed to maintaining so we can
continue to develop the services that this country needs and deserves."

The PSBA network is a Welsh Assembly Government led project which is
creating a national information and communications platform. A single high
speed connectivity network, PSBA supports the delivery of a wide range of
voice, video and data services, so enabling increased efficiency and
collaboration within and across the public sector.

The Awards ceremony, attended by ministers, top-civil servants and
technology experts from the public and private sectors, took place on
Wednesday 26th January at the London Guildhall.

Notes to Editors:

The Judging Panel

    - John Suffolk, Government CIO - Cabinet Office

    - Keith Bannister, Partner IT Advisory (Public Sector), KPMG

    - Steve Palmer, CIO at London Borough of Hillingdon

    - Jos Creese, Head of IT at Hampshire County Council and Socitm President

    - Chris Histed, founder, PublicTechnology.net & the e-Government National
      Awards

    - Ben Heald, Chief Executive, Sift Media

    - Ian Cunningham, Head of Public Sector Sales, Vodafone

About The PSBA Network

The PSBA (www.psba.org.uk/) network (Public Sector Broadband
Aggregation) is a Welsh Assembly Government led collaborative national
communications service that, in conjunction with other major Welsh public
sector organisations, has created a national information & communications
platform to enable greater efficiency and collaborative potential, helping to
support the delivery of improved services for the people of Wales.

Conceived and delivered as a collaborative project with key stakeholders
in Local Government, Health and Education, the network is now used by Unitary
Authorities, Hospitals, General Practitioners, Universities, Further
Education Colleges, Emergency Services, and a growing number of organisations
funded by the public sector.

Connecting users since early 2008, the PSBA network delivers a wide range
of communications services, supports voice, video and data traffic, and is
currently delivering secure, fast and reliable communications to over 2000
(March 2010) public sector sites across Wales.

This unique and innovative public sector communications service, one of
the first totally integrated Public Sector Networks (PSN) was conceived,
designed, and built in Wales to meet the specific needs of the Welsh public
sector.

About The e-Government National Awards

The e-Government National Awards are run by Sift Media. Sift Media
(www.siftmedia.co.uk/) is a leading business-to-business publisher
specialising in online professional communities and face-to-face business
events.

With a range of services including websites, email publications, industry
awards and exhibitions, Sift Media delivers original, branded content to over
half a million professionals every month, across finance, accounting, HR and
training, IT, marketing, customer management and knowledge management.

For more information, please contact: Andrew Parker/Charlotte Sandy, Cohesive Communications
T: +44-(0)1291-626200, E: charlottes at cohesive.uk.com