Virtual Private Networks connect staff to the office from any location
State invests in new statewide networking infrastructure to enhance speed, capacity, and service delivery capabilities
The Washington State Department of Information Services (DIS) is in the final stages of upgrading the DIS statewide optical network infrastructure that serves state agencies, city and county governments, and law enforcement agencies across Washington.
The statewide network upgrade project is known as the Next Generation Network (NGN). The NGN transports the majority of voice, video and data for local, county and state inter-government communications, and is the foundation for DIS network service delivery. It is used by DIS customers to share data, resources and communication within their organization, with the public, and among other government entities. The NGN supports DIS services such as the State Government Network (SGN), the InterGovernmental Network (IGN) for cities and counties, and the Public Government Network (PGN) for deploying government applications and services to the public.
The process to upgrade the network infrastructure began in September 2005, and the third phase is expected to be completed in November 2007. The fourth and final phase, which focuses on networking technology between customer offices and the DIS regional nodes, is expected to be completed by June 2008.
The NGN uses Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology as the transmission platform to create an optical ring throughout the state. The NGN provides DIS with the capability to fully utilize the maximum transmission bandwidth possible over fiber optics by transmitting multiple 10 gigabit lightwave signals over a single fiber.
As the foundation for all DIS networking services, the NGN ring architecture provides added reliability and availability in the event of a major network failure. The NGN scalability capabilities will also improve DIS' service delivery responsiveness, as customer needs change and develop in the future.
"The upgrade of the existing statewide network to the NGN optical technology puts DIS in a position to better meet the future needs of customers - the NGN delivers bigger, better and faster network speeds and capabilities," said Ron Kappes, DIS NGN Project Manager. "The NGN also provides DIS with the capacity to rollout new and converging network services as they evolve."
"The design, project planning, and implementation of the NGN was performed with the overriding objective of assuring all DIS customers would not be adversely impacted during the project. It was our goal from the start that this very large-scale technology improvement effort would be as transparent as possible to our customers," said Kappes.
For questions about the NGN project, please contact the DIS Service Desk at 360-753-2454 or via email at servicedesk@dis.wa.gov