MoD deploys more PCs for military ops

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is deploying 3,300 computer terminals to help command military operations.

The hardware rollout will cost an extra £270m on top of the original £2.3bn contract with the Atlas consortium for the provision of the Defence Information Infrastructure (Future) (DII(F)) programme to provide around 150,000 computer terminals across 2,000 MoD sites worldwide.

Bob Quick, DII integrated project team leader at the MoD's Defence Equipment and Support unit, said the DII(F) will provide a computing infrastructure and services that will enable sharing of information and collaborative working to a variety of groups and individuals – including those that currently have limited or no connectivity.

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These 3,300 terminals will replace a variety of older systems which are becoming obsolete and have been identified as a risk to successful military operations.

Of the new terminals, 1,900 will be deployed to headquarters on the ground and on board Royal Navy ships.

The MoD has been getting more tech-savvy of late, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan due to get a free wi-fi service next year to keep in touch with family and friends.