The state government of Arizona is aggressively transforming its network infrastructure to efficiently utilize taxpayers’ money and improve service quality. At the heart of this transition is an initiative to replace the state’s aging telephone network with a converged IP-based network that carries voice and data, and eventually video.

Headed by director and state CIO Chris Cummiskey, the program is being overseen by the Arizona Government Information Technology Agency (GITA). The state has taken a leadership role in implementing this efficiency-driven initiative, which is presently under consideration among other states nationwide. GITA is responsible for developing and overseeing technology projects, including developing convergence standards for all state agencies, boards and commissions.

More than 5,000 Internet protocol phones provided by Cisco Systems have been deployed in nine state agencies as the state continues its push into the convergence of voice and data. The Arizona State Legislature and the Arizona Department of Revenue (DOR) also are among the agencies that have adopted the IP telephony solution.

The DOR wanted to replace three key systems, or small PBXs, that serviced its nine-story headquarters building. Workers in one department needed an outside line to connect to co-workers in another department, and incoming calls could not be transferred from one department to another. The IP solution removed these obstacles, ensuring effective collaboration.

“The DOR has achieved a remarkable seamlessness in its operations, communicating as a single entity instead of fragmented divisions,” says Cummiskey. “They have set an example that can be replicated between agencies, not just within an agency.

“An IP-based converged network can support such diverse communications media as data, voice and video,” Cummiskey adds. “An IP telephone provides increased functionality over a traditional PBX -based telephone, while eliminating the costs associated with maintaining a separate voice network. For state agencies and employees, as well as taxpayers served by state communications systems, this converged network will enable a range of new applications, such as unified messaging.”

The conversion to IP telephony also has helped foster economic growth, according to Cummiskey. Prior to convergence, some rural communities were unable to get high-speed bandwidth to support local business growth because of a shortage of leased telephone lines from the phone company. When the Arizona Department of Corrections completes its migration to IP telephony in three prison locations, it anticipates freeing up leased telephone lines that can be used by local businesses to generate economic development in many rural communities.