Edinburgh-based telecomms firm Commsworld has secured a 15-year contract worth more than £8 million to deliver and maintain a new Wide Area Network (WAN) for West Lothian Council.

The long-term contract will involve Commsworld replacing West Lothian’s existing service with a new network providing a tenfold increase in available bandwidth and access to high-quality, resilient connectivity.

Under the deal, Commsworld will deliver high‑capacity WAN services across West Lothian Council’s entire estate, from schools and libraries to community hubs and administrative buildings.

Commsworld said the upgraded network will serve to strengthen the council’s digital backbone and boost internet access, data security, system reliability, and the performance of critical public‑service applications.

The new fibre infrastructure will be linked to Commsworld’s Optical Core Network (OCN), built specifically to boost the security and resilience of digital infrastructure for organisations the length and breadth of the UK. 

To further expand coverage in West Lothian, Commsworld will also establish new local Points of Presence (PoPs). The firm said these will help cut latency, delivering faster connectivity, better cloud performance, and lower lag for schools, public services, and businesses.

“Partnering with Commsworld enables West Lothian Council to fully realise the value of our existing investment in networking infrastructure,” said Ian Forrest, IT services manager for West Lothian Council. 

“By optimising the total fibre bandwidth within our overall network design, we are creating a step‑change in connectivity across all Council sites – both today and for the future. This enhanced digital foundation will support the delivery of truly transformational services and make it even easier for our communities to access the support they need.”

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The contract continues Commsworld’s track record of delivering major public-sector digital upgrades across Scotland, including in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, Dundee and the Scottish Borders.

“We have successfully delivered massively enhanced infrastructure to local authorities across Scotland and England,” said Craig Scott, Commsworld’s public sector development director.

“It means customers are now enjoying the full, transformative benefits of our Optical Core Network, including lower latency as well as increased bandwidth, resilience and security. We look forward to providing this step change in connectivity and resiliency in West Lothian.”