Coming soon... the new DurhamNet web site.

For support contact Tel: (01207) 218 989 or E-mail: helpdesk@derwentside.gov.uk.

About DurhamNet

DurhamNet is a major backbone network that provides interconnectivity and services to a range of organisations across County Durham. Capital costs to finance the building of the infrastructure were secured from SRB6 and ‘single pot’ sources, which, together with sub-regional partnership backing, formed the basis for developments into public, education and private sectors.

DurhamNet Network Map (pdf 250kb).

The project is driven by market failure and community development. Independent consultants have determined that telecommunications companies (telcos) will not invest in broadband network in rural areas, as it does not meet their business models for return on investment. Many telcos do not have funds available for building infrastructure which means that without intervention, many areas of our county will never benefit from broadband communications technologies.

DurhamNet provides that intervention, bringing very low cost or free access to communities and delivering competitive and affordable access to business and education sectors.

The remit of the project is to provide services to every school, library, social service office and local authority, with additional provision to many community centres and any site that offers free public access to DurhamNet and the Internet. The network is not restricted by local council boundaries and seeks to provide equality of service to organisations and users without regard for their geographical location. As an example, users in Upper Weardale should be able to receive the same service as those in Durham City, at the same cost.

Initially, the project was valued at over £3million with a 5-year business plan and aims to connect over 500 sites across County Durham. The project goals were met and DurhamNet continued to grow over subsequent years.

DurhamNet is recognised as a major part of the regional backbone network. This network is made up from the Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) which takes in Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside and Sunderland with interconnections to Northumberland and the UKERNA education network for all schools, colleges and universities. Services provided by DurhamNet are part of ONE North East’s regional regeneration strategy.

Key Players

The user base of the operation has grown dramatically as the connectivity rollout has developed. DurhamNet currently provides services to a substantial number of sites, including:

DurhamNet supports over 1500 sites across the north east with over 200,000 users.

Business Support

In terms of business support, DurhamNet already provides a range of Internet and connectivity solutions to many businesses both in County Durham and the wider region. Examples include:

Filtronic – an international electronics design and manufacturing business based in Newton Aycliffe. Filtronic required high capacity, reliable Internet access to support their global operational base and secure, remote access for their sales force. DurhamNet were able to link Filtronic to its County-wide backbone network and to the Internet through resilient gateways to deliver high speed broadband to their headquarters building and Virtual Private Networking to the mobile sales team.

SMEs – DurhamNet delivers Internet services to a number of small businesses through local authority managed centres:

NETPark – links to the Incubator and Durham University research facility

DurhamNet also provides support for community business initiatives such as WeardaleNet which offers community, domestic and business services.

These services have seen DurhamNet expand from an internal, District Council ICT department to a thriving business unit with an annual turnover in excess of £5million. This development has brought high quality ICT jobs to the area and over the past 10 years, the number of staff employed within the organisation has risen from 9 to 34 and has consistently offered apprenticeships to young people.