Fujitsu deemed 'high risk' for govt contracts

Fujitsu's bid for public super-fast broadband contracts is under scrutiny after the communications firm was labelled as "high risk" by the government.

Last week, the Financial Times revealed Fujitsu is viewed as an unsafe option for Cabinet Office work after having a £900 million NHS patient records contract terminated in 2008.

At the time, it was unclear whether the "high risk" status applied to the company's telecoms arm, which alongside BT is attempting to secure taxpayers' money to subsidise the rollout of super-fast broadband in rural parts of the UK.

Speaking to the Register, a Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: "The suppliers appointed to the BDUK (Broadband Delivery UK) framework are Fujitsu and BT.

"Frameworks are within the scope of [the government's] supplier performance policy and any supplier identified as high risk will be scrutinised particularly carefully."

This news is of particular concern given the scrutiny currently placed on the BDUK framework by the EU, which is investigating the process on competition grounds.

So far, all the contracts awarded under the framework have gone to BT, with the telecoms giant last week securing agreements with Cumbria, Norfolk and Surrey county councils.