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Challenge

Edwards Air Force Base faced a significant challenge in modernizing its network infrastructure. The existing Fujitsu core network was becoming increasingly inadequate for the base’s evolving needs. The primary challenge was to replace this legacy system with a more advanced, scalable solution capable of supporting high-capacity demands and a wide range of services.

The project demanded a solution that could not only meet the current requirements but also accommodate future growth without major disruptions. This included integrating multiple service data rates and formats, from legacy Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) to high-speed optical connections. The complexity of the task was heightened by the need to ensure the solution was fully compliant with Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) standards, including extensive Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) testing, certification, and Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) Approved Products List (APL) certification.

Furthermore, the solution had to be implemented with minimal impact on the base’s ongoing operations, requiring meticulous planning, coordination, and execution. This was a critical aspect, as any significant downtime or disruption could adversely affect the base’s operational capabilities.

Solution

C1Gov, in collaboration with Ciena, implemented a comprehensive solution to meet Edwards Air Force Base’s network expansion needs. The project was executed in two phases, ensuring minimal disruption and fulfilling traffic demands while allowing room for future growth. At the heart of the solution was Ciena’s innovative packet optical transport system, a market-leading technology providing robust and flexible network infrastructure.

The implementation involved deploying Ciena’s most advanced network devices across core sites to form an optical backbone ring with significantly increased capacity. This network was also upgraded to utilize Ciena’s cutting-edge networking technologies, offering flexibility, remote programmability, and reduced need for manual service reconfiguration. Moreover, C1Gov ensured timing synchronization across the network for TDM-based services, deploying upgraded nodes to aggregate services and support UNI endpoints for packetization.

The solution was strategically designed to support a wide range of service data rates and formats. This design intent and implementation demonstrated C1Gov’s ability to deliver a turnkey solution that not only replaced the existing core network but also set the stage for accommodating diverse services and future technological advancements.

Outcome

The collaboration between C1Gov and Ciena yielded a highly successful outcome for Edwards Air Force Base. The project successfully replaced the legacy Fujitsu core network with a state-of-the-art, scalable optical transport network. This upgrade has significantly enhanced the base’s capacity to handle high-speed data and a wide array of services, paving the way for future growth.

The newly installed infrastructure has provided Edwards Air Force Base with many years of reliable service, enabling it to meet high-capacity demands over its existing fiber infrastructure. The network’s vastly increased capacity, coupled with Ciena’s advanced technologies, has positioned the base at the forefront of technological advancement in network infrastructure.

Moreover, the project was executed with a focus on seamless integration and minimal operational disruption, ensuring that the base’s critical operations were not impacted during the transition. This successful implementation of a complex, turnkey solution has not only enhanced the base’s operational capabilities but also ensured that its communication and data transmission needs are future-proofed, aligning with the evolving demands of modern military operations.