Roc Technologies has been chosen as the strategic collaborator by the City of London Corporation to implement a comprehensive network connectivity solution. This project includes the UK’s first enterprise deployment of a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) for public services, AI-driven wireless capabilities, and highly reliable internet connectivity.
The City of London aims to modernise connectivity for millions through the creation of a “One City” experience, which is expected to bolster the city’s standing as a global hub for business and financial services.
Roc Technologies’ plan incorporates Cloud and AI solutions to deliver and manage network services. It features the first full-scale deployment of SASE for the UK public sector, ensuring consistent and secure connectivity for millions within the City of London. Key sites covered include the City of London Police, the Barbican Centre, and various local schools and landmark sites like Epping Forest and Hampstead Heath.
The work encompasses over 200 important locations, aiming to provide robust connectivity for every member of the community. This infrastructure allows for seamless and productive remote work across all locations, from city streets to council offices and classrooms.
Better connectivity is important for public safety, offering support for technologies such as 4K body-worn cameras used by police officers. This helps ensure the safety of both officers and the community, even in more remote areas. Strengthening data security is a core element, with all traffic and devices managed in the cloud.
Roc’s security-cleared engineers manage operations from their secure Network and Security Operations Centre, implementing data controls like zero trust networking and compliance with UK policing standards.
All partners involved in this change maintain resilient data centre operations within the UK, ensuring that no sensitive data is transferred abroad. The solution integrates high-performance platforms such as HPE’s AI-Ops, Juniper MIST, and Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma SASE, supported by Vorboss’ extensive central London fibre network.
By consolidating from 11 suppliers to a single provider, Roc Technologies anticipates savings of £20,000 per month. This is achieved by removing energy-intensive on-premises hardware and simplifying supply chain complexities. The cloud-based service model offers flexibility, allowing the corporation to adjust services according to demand, promoting efficient delivery of high-quality solutions.
Chelsea Chamberlin, Chief Technology Officer at Roc Technologies, remarked: “The City of London sees footfall of millions of people a day, so it’s vital that a consistent network experience is delivered across all locations and to all users, including visitors, residents, and businesses regardless of the services they need to access.” She added, “We’re delighted to be the sole primary supplier for this exciting project, drawing on a range of solutions from our expert partners to deliver a truly future-proof network architecture in the heart of the capital.”
Zakki Ghauri, Director of Digital Services at the City of London Corporation, concluded: “Our ambition is to be at the forefront of digital innovation for the benefit of Londoners. Partnering with Roc enables us to modernise our network, enhance connectivity across all our organisations under one banner and ensure we can deliver innovative, flexible services wherever and whenever they are needed.”
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