Saxony is the first Federal State to link all its regional authorities via an exclusive, broadband communications infrastructure. The “InfoHighway Saxony“, designed by the IABG, was not only welcomed enthusiastically in Saxony itself, but went on to serve as the definitive network infrastructure model for many other Federal States. The IABG accompanied the Saxon State Chancellery for the duration of the project, helping it overcome all technical and organisational problems, and thus reinforced its reputation as a reliable, innovative partner.
The InfoHighway, which was commissioned by T-Systems, has since been operating in a reliable manner, and is a good example of a successful Public Private Partnership (PPP). Saxony was even nominated for a PPP award as a result.
As the existing contract with T-Systems is due to expire in mid-2008, the Free State of Saxony was obliged to plan and launch the tendering procedure for the follow-up project at an early stage in its capacity as a public contracting body. The IABG was entrusted with the preparation and supervision of this tendering procedure as a result of its successful, smooth collaborations with the Saxon authorities.
The Free State signed the contracts with the two new contractual partners, T-Systems and British Telecom, at the end of November. Saxony will once again be leading the way during the design of the new, ultra-modern public authority network, playing a technologically pioneering role in proceedings. The state authorities, local authorities and schools will be using a joint network for the first time and will make considerable savings in the process. The use of MPLS (“Multiprotocol Label Switching“), voice over IP and IP telephony results in a previously unparalleled level of language and data integration in use within the public domain. The ultra-secure central services platform has been developed using state-of-the-art technology, and can also be used by authorities affiliated to the SAN.
The future SAN will be a worthy successor to the extremely successful “InfoHighway Saxony”. Work on the system will commence at the beginning of 2008, the migration of the various sites will take place the following autumn, and the project is due to be completed by the beginning of 2009. The IABG will undertake important coordination tasks during the development and migration phases.
The IABG is pleased to be able to continue its successful professional cooperation with the Free State of Saxony, which has endured for over a decade, with this new project.
