South Yorkshire Police switch to VoIP network

South Yorkshire Police is planning to adopt a new VoIP network that will unify its voice and data networks.

The move, which will affect 5,500 users across 90 sites in the region, should help the force make significant cost savings and provide an improved public service.

Kevin Battersby, network manager at South Yorkshire Police, said: "We wanted to maximise the return on our data network investment by adding IP voice capability which is critical to our operations.

"Bringing voice into this environment will considerably reduce costs in telephony, management and administration."

The VoIP network will enable calls to be forwarded on to mobile phones, which will result in more effective community policing. It is also capable of delivering video conferencing across South Yorkshire as the force strives to reduce the time officers spend travelling between sites.

To guarantee the system's security it will be hosted on a private network, rather than over the internet, when rollout begins this summer.