[2] It started operation in around 1995[3] NHSnet was managed jointly by BT and Cable & Wireless and was developed under the aegis of the NHS Information Authority.

Organisations wishing to provide information or applications to their NHS partners over NHSnet had a choice of applying for their own Code of Connection, which required a considerable investment in time (typically 6 months), effort and infrastructure; or partnering with one of the restricted number of organisations (BT, Cable and Wireless and Ioko) able to use their own Code of Connect for these purposes[citation needed].

[6] According to an ICO Decision Notice in relation to a freedom of information enquiry, the seven-year contract document ran to around 1000 pages and had a value in excess of £530m.

The standardised national infrastructure will enable the rollout of 21st Century healthcare IT applications and the next generation of IP-based converged communications solutions.

[citation needed] The N3 network enables the user to access NHS Wide Web (nww) prefixed sites, as well as www.

[11] HSCN, delivered by multiple suppliers adhering to an agreed set of standards, is intended to progressively replace the N3 national healthcare network.

[14] NHS Digital looked to replace a long-term single supplier contract with a marketplace of network options.