The University and the Colleges have embarked on a major project to replace the existing University Telephone Network (UTN). The current system has been in place since 1986. The new system again will be a joint venture between the University and the Colleges. The primary implementation of the system will commence in October 2007 and extend through to the latter part of 2009. The following is a summary of the events that have occurred during the first half of this calendar year:
| January 2007 | PTS Consulting was engaged to oversee the final stage of procurement of the new system and provide project management throughout the implementation. |
| February - June 2007 | PTS Consulting and the University Computing Service staff carried out multiple technical workshops and briefing sessions with all potential suppliers available on the established University Framework. |
| 10 May 2007 | The Cambridge Bursars' Committee approved the adoption of the new system. The Colleges have agreed to pay their portion of the core system at the end of this calendar year and subsequently provide funding for installation of the telephony instruments during the roll out period. |
| 23 May 2007 | The University Planning and Resources Committee approved the release of the Telephone Exchange Sinking Fund for use in the procurement of the new system. |
| 14 June 2007 | A final Request for Proposals (RFP) was drafted and issued to the eleven suppliers which had previously entered into a framework contract with the University in 2006. |
| 16 July 2007 | A total of eight of the eleven suppliers responded to the RFP and these proposals are currently going through an independent evaluation process. |
In the following weeks, a supplier will be chosen from those that had responded to the RFP. This supplier will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of the core system during the latter part of 2007 and commencing a high-paced roll out plan to all University institutions and Colleges for eighteen months, beginning in January 2008. Ahead of this roll out process, the University Computing Service will be conducting a complete overhaul of the CUDN Point of Presence equipment which serves the University and the Colleges. This upgrade will ensure the highest quality data connections to institutions in order to guarantee a reliable and resilient service.
It is expected that the final supplier will be selected during August 2007, upon which time a formal public announcement will be made.
Any enquiries can be sent directly to the Telephone Replacement System Project Team (e-mail veery@hermes.cam.ac.uk).