Summary
The Post Office has extended its contract with Fujitsu for the Horizon IT system until March 2027, paying an additional £41 million. The Horizon system, which has faced criticism after wrongly leading to the prosecution of over 900 sub-postmasters, will eventually be replaced, with plans to select a new supplier by July 2026.
Key Facts
- The Post Office has extended its contract with Fujitsu for the Horizon IT system by one year.
- The extension costs £41 million and will last until March 2027.
- The Horizon system was previously involved in a scandal where its errors caused wrongful prosecutions of sub-postmasters.
- The Post Office is actively working to replace the Horizon system with a new supplier by July 2026.
- The switch to a new supplier might extend the use of Horizon until 2028.
- The previous internal project to develop an in-house system (NBIT) was canceled.
- Fujitsu has acknowledged problems with the Horizon system and admitted its responsibility in the scandal.
