1.14 In May 1992, the Department endorsed an internal review3, which defined the scope of the Defence Fixed Telecommunications System and provided the basis for placing the fixed telecommunications systems of the three armed Services under unified control. Following that, in 1993 the Department commissioned GPT, a telecommunications supplier, to identify various ways of rationalising the Department's fixed telecommunications into a single system. GPT then examined the costs, benefits and risks over a fifteen year period of these options against the alternative of maintaining the existing method of service provision. The study was called the Project Definition Study, and was completed in 1994. Figure 5 outlines the options identified in the study.
Options identified in the Project Definition Study |
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Figure 5 |
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| The Project Definition Study identified six options for the Defence Fixed Telecommunications System | |
| 1. Zero Option. This represented the Department's existing network provision, plus plans to maintain that level of service over the ten year period. 2. Greenfield Option. Where the Defence Fixed Telecommunications System would be served by new, more advanced digital equipment, which would be owned by the Department. 3. Federation Option. This involved combining current assets in a cost-effective manner through the use of a single network serving all sites. 4. Facilities Management Option. This involved using external contractors to manage and maintain all Department network assets with the exception of key core elements. 5. Virtual Private Network Option. This involved serving the Defence Fixed Telecommunications System by public facilities where appropriate. 6. Hybrid Option. This was based on the Federation Option, plus elements of options 2, 4 and 5. | |
Source: Ministry of Defence: Project Definition Study |
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3 Staff Requirement (Defence) 2001.