[August 31, 2004]

Lucent Joins the Army of One

BY JOHANNE TORRES

The US Army�s communications system is getting an extreme makeover. The government just allocated $4.6 million to refurbish the department�s military voice and data infrastructure. Lucent Technologies, Inc. (news - alert - quote) will be joining the army of one to accomplish this mission.  

The communication network provider picked up a year long contract to supply the United States Department of the Army with optical networking systems and professional services to upgrade military communications systems in Fort Drum, New York. This new contract is part of the Army's Installation Information Infrastructure Modernization Program (I3MP) aimed at upgrading and modernizing the voice and data infrastructure at Army bases worldwide. I3MP is being implemented Army-wide by Project Manager, Defense Communications and Army Switched Systems (PM DCASS), and the Program Executive Office, Enterprise Information Systems (PEO EIS).

With the new optical network in place, Lucent will hook up the base with increased bandwidth, as well as upgrades that will enhance the network's flexibility, reliability and security. Users will be able to quickly and cost-effectively move data among all systems, databases and hardware. Lucent Worldwide Services will also be supplying engineering, network integration, testing, and program management.

"Lucent has a long successful track record serving United States Department of Defense agencies. In fact, we designed, engineered, deployed, installed, tested and supported Fort Drum's current network, �said Rick Miller, senior vice president for Government Solutions at Lucent Technologies.

As agreed, the Army will be using the Lucent Metropolis DMX Access Multiplexer and the new Metropolis Wavelength Services Manager (WSM). With these installed, their optical network will be switched from a point-to-point based infrastructure to an upgradeable, more secure multi-point structure, including ring, mesh, hub and other configurations of choice. The MetropolisDMX Access Multiplexer will provide SONET functionality and serve as an integrated Ethernet over SONET metro platform. The Lucent Metropolis Wavelength Services Manager (WSM) is a new metro dense wavelength division (DWDM) product that will help users meet their wavelength needs in the metro access, interoffice and regional application spaces.

This is Lucent Metropolis DMX Access Multiplexer and the new Metropolis Wavelength Services Manager (WSM)�s premiere deal with a U.S. government customer.