The council's "Work Smart" rationalisation project, a cost-saving initiative aimed at supporting home working and reducing on-site overheads, will be supported. Previously, high charges were incurred when network links needed to be re-routed or shut down because of changes in the council's operational structure.

Alan Cruikshank, IT services manager at East Lothian Council, said: "Updata has provided us with exceptional cost savings on our network provision, whilst giving us the high level of reliability required.

"Its flexibility has opened up the scope for future transition to a PSN network as well as collaboration with East Lothian health authorities and other public sector bodies."

The value of the new WAN contract has not been disclosed.

In other public sector connectivity news, the in rolling out broadband to businesses and residents up until 2015.