A major project to introduce higher-capacity core and access connectivity and replace obsolete network equipment across 4,500 miles of National Highways motorways and major A-roads, has been completed 3 months ahead of schedule by Telent.

Telent has been working with National Highways to operate and transform the National Roads Telecommunications Service (NRTS) since 2018. The operation and management of NRTS by Telent connects over 30,000 end devices (including CCTV, variable message signs, communications systems, and traffic monitoring sensors) to National Highways control and operations centres, enabling National Highways to efficiently operate the Strategic Road Network (SRN).

Telent successfully completed the major upgrade to the NRTS network replacing legacy roadside equipment with modern more reliable future-proof IP systems; removing obsolescence risk, improving service availability, increasing capacity, and providing additional functionality including wireless services. This will ensure the network can support National Highways to take advantage of the benefits of new roadside technology, such as digital CCTV services and help reduce future maintenance visits and overall operating costs.

The project, completed 3 months ahead of schedule, represents work at a scale not previously delivered on the SRN. Over 10,000 roadside assets were installed – and a similar number of legacy units removed – with minimal impact on National Highways live operational services and road users. Key to the success was close working and collaboration across National Highways and Telent’s NRTS teams, meticulous migration planning, and Telent’s proven technical experience, expertise and deep sector knowledge.

Telent has also improved the overall security of the network, enabling better controls and security monitoring from its perimeter to its core.

This has been a large and complex national migration effort to modernise key components of a network that supports a vital part of the transport infrastructure in the UK. National Highways required capabilities that the previous network would not support, whilst providing increased capacity, higher levels of resilience, and enabling modern networking and security technologies to be used across the network.

Peter Hopkinson, Operations Director at Telent said: “Our approach demonstrated the importance of having a thorough methodology in place before starting any roadside work. We created a Method of Procedure for every type of roadside architecture, built a full replica network environment and demonstrated the migration process, which enabled us to phase the programme and plan traffic management for road closures effectively, minimising disruption for all road users.”

Nigel Weldon, Business Development Director at Telent said: “Drawing from our extensive knowledge of the Strategic Road Network and our excellent working relationship with National Highways, we overcame significant challenges to deliver the work ahead of time and exceed expectations. We’ve worked with National Highways for many years now, so they know to expect a proactive approach to collaboration and innovation from the Telent team, coupled with high levels of technical expertise and professionalism. Telent really understands the criticality of the NRTS network, how it underpins a large part of the UK’s economy by keeping the country moving efficiently, and we all take great pride in the work that we do.”