Status of the Plan for the
State Government Telecommunications Network

Telecommunications Planning and Oversight Council
October 1, 2006

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Addressing the Goals and Objectives
of the 2005 Strategic Plan

Goals Met in Fiscal 2006

The 2005 Strategic Plan presented broad strategies of consolidation and convergence to achieve the goal of network optimization. TPOC and DIR have achieved and implemented these goals.

The major projects allowing TPOC and DIR to accomplish the strategies and goals of the 2005 Strategic Plan include:

• Health and Human Services Wide Area Network Consolidation

  DIR’s management of the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Wide Area Network (WAN) operations has afforded the opportunity to leverage the infrastructure and customer base to develop a shared services network model that can be utilized by agencies throughout the state.

• Migration to IP-Based Infrastructure

  The HHSC WAN is migrating from an older legacy technology platform to a more robust and resilient IP-based platform utilizing Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) that delivers quality of service (QoS) for data, voice, and video transport. This new platform provides IP Services Gateways (ISG) in 18 locations across the state, including all Local Access Transport Areas (LATA). In addition to serving HHSC agencies, DIR will continue to work in partnership with other interested agencies to further leverage value from the enterprise network solution.

• Statewide VoIP Solution

  At the request of HHSC, the management and operation of the statewide VoIP platform for the 2-1-1 Information and Referral program was transferred to DIR. This platform has been expanded to support the new statewide call center for HHSC’s Integrated Eligibility and Enrollment program. The design for this new expanded system enables DIR to leverage this VoIP solution statewide to support other agency initiatives.

• VoIP Implementation to the Desktop

  DIR has implemented VoIP within its offices and developed Best Practices to support agency implementation of VoIP. [6] This internal implementation will be used to develop a VoIP service offering for agencies on the Capitol Complex Telephone System (CCTS).

STRATEGY: Consolidation

The consolidation of duplicative telecommunications networks is key to a statewide network solution. By consolidating disparate networks and resources into the enterprise network solution, the state optimizes its network investment.

To achieve this Strategy:

• The HHSC WAN was transferred to DIR via interagency contract.
• DIR has established an enterprise solution and is migrating the legacy HHSC WAN to a more scalable Internet Protocol (IP) platform that can more securely and effectively be utilized by agencies.
• Following the HHSC WAN transition, HHSC agreed to transfer the 2-1-1 service responsibility to DIR providing a fully deployed statewide VoIP solution that can be scaled to support the enterprise and leveraged by other state agencies.
• DIR has worked with the Commission on State Emergency Communications to assist them in migrating Poison Control’s disparate voice, data, and video network to a consolidated, converged solution.
• The VoIP to the desktop implementation within DIR has established a platform that can be expanded across the CCTS.
• VoIP Best Practices developed by a multi-agency workgroup provide guidance to agencies interested in implementing VoIP.
• The Texas Collaboration Forum will provide opportunities for agency collaboration and consolidation.

STRATEGY: Convergence

The enterprise network solution utilizes a converged technology that allows voice (local and long distance), data, and video to travel over a single IP-enabled infrastructure that is efficient, secure, and intelligent.

To achieve this Strategy:

• The HHSC WAN migration to an IP-based network utilizing MPLS offers true convergence and quality of service for data, voice, and video delivery.
• The IP Services Gateway (ISG) platform enhancement offers IP-based voice services over a statewide network, including IP Telephony, IP Contact Center, and network-based Interactive Voice Response (IVR).
• DIR’s internal VoIP project provides converged voice, data, and video service over Local Area Networks (LAN) and Metro Area Networks (MAN).

GOAL: Optimization

To achieve this Goal:

• Development of a statewide IP-based network leveraging the HHSC WAN and the ISG platform provides a common communications infrastructure that will support next-generation network services across state government.
• Migration to the IP-based network provides extensive network redundancy, enhanced quality of service, greater reliability, and higher security.
• Converged services provide a statewide platform that can be offered to state agencies and other eligible state customers to reduce infrastructure expenses while lowering operational costs and expanding the array of services.

Guiding Principles and Tactical Objectives

Cost-effective and Affordable Services [Value-driven]

By leveraging the collective buying power of the state, the state government telecommunications network offers telecommunications services at a substantial savings for all governmental entities.

To achieve this Objective:

• The new statewide IP-based network is managed and operated by DIR with infrastructure contracted through AT&T. Because the vendor is responsible for maintenance and upgrades, agencies can plan for long-term stable pricing without increased capital equipment costs.
• Since the enterprise strategy is based upon the concept of shared infrastructure, as more agencies connect to the statewide IP-based network the increased customer base will lower costs.
• IP telephony will afford cost efficiencies associated with intrastate long distance and toll-free service, while VoIP to the desktop reduces costs for move, add, changes (MAC), and eliminates the need for cabling both voice and data.

Performance and Service Options [Fast]

The enterprise network solution provides sufficient speed and bandwidth scalability to meet the needs of its customers.

To achieve this Objective:

• The statewide network provides scalable bandwidth through MPLS to meet the needs of customers without increases in costs.
• The statewide network provides enhanced quality of service, allowing converged data, voice, and video to be prioritized.
• The architecture of the statewide network offers agencies unique Virtual Private Networks (VPN) within the MPLS cloud through Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF).

Security and Redundancy [Secure]

The enterprise network solution provides a highly secure and redundant infrastructure that will ensure business continuity.

To achieve this Objective:

• The enterprise WAN migration to the IP-based network included redundancy in design with dual connectivity to each IP Services Gateway.
• The contractual agreement with AT&T includes network security resources, environmental controls, and business continuity measures.
• DIR is establishing a Network and Security Operations Center in Austin to monitor and assess security on the statewide IP-based network; and to offer security services to all state agencies.

Reliability and Adaptability [Reliable]

The enterprise network solution provides for end-to-end reliability, can adapt to changing requirements, and incorporates new and emerging technologies to meet or exceed service objectives.

To achieve this Objective:

• The statewide IP-based network transition strategy provides for agency testing of mission-critical applications before migrating.
• As HHSC’s legacy WAN is reaching the end of its useful life, the migration to the ISG network provides for timely technology refresh without capital investment.
• The MPLS platform allows for flexible design and adaptability as additional agencies choose to join the statewide IP-based network.

Network Support Services [Customer-driven]

Exemplary customer service is the primary goal of TPOC and DIR. Customers have a centralized network management center with full-service customer support.

To achieve this Objective:

• The contractual agreement with AT&T allows DIR to concentrate on managing, operating, and monitoring the network while focusing on customer needs.
• DIR is establishing a consolidated Network and Security Operations Center to monitor the performance and security of the network.
• The Texas Collaboration Forum provides the opportunity for agency collaboration and discussion of customer concerns.

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