Galaxy unveils unified IP network for public sector

 The Federal Government-owned Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure platform, Galaxy Backbone plc has unveiled a unified Internet Protocol (IP) telephone network for the nation’s public sector.

Galaxy is charged primarily with the objectives to connect and operate a unified ICT infrastructure agenda for the transformation of Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Mr. Franklyn Ginger Eke of Corporate Communications, Galaxy Backbone, noted that as part of its objectives of ensuring efficiency and improve productivity in the public sector using ICT, Galaxy Backbone recently rolled out a unified IP telephony network for the federal civil service.

He also said in a press statement made available to Daily Champion at the weekend that the unified IP telephone network is delivered under the OneGov.net (1-Gov.net) platform, which was developed and deployed by Galaxy Backbone for the provision of shared ICT services to federal government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“The OneGov.net platform is a secure platform for e-Government programs and comprises predominantly of connectivity, data centre infrastructure and various computing platforms,” he assured.

In addition, Ginger-Eke quoted Mr. Abdul-malik Suleiman, Head, Implementation and Network Services, Galaxy Backbone said the unified IP telephone network implemented by Galaxy is an integration and deployment of three IP telephony technologies from leading global brands like Cisco, Avaya and Huawei within its network.

“This also involved the development of a unified numbering plan of five digits for all platforms to cater for the future expansion” he said.

Equally, Head, Federal Public Sector, Galaxy Backbone, Mr. Frank Ugbodaga was quoted as saying they were excited at this opportunity to demonstrate that Galaxy Backbone is not just an Internet Service Provider (ISP) for government, but adds value by increasing the efficiency of government and helping to reduce its costs of operation.

“With the unified communications infrastructure in place, all of the federal government can communicate as a closed user group with increased advantages in security, cost reduction, better administration and consistency in service quality,” he said.

Ugbodaga further said that the single dial plan service extends to over 400 MDA office locations on the 1-GOV.network and would ensure high quality and toll free internal voice and video telephony access for users.

The OneGov.net, he underscored, is a public online services brokerage platform that uses the concept of Services-Oriented Architecture (SOA) to ensure that information resources are delivered as services on a commonly accessible platform.

“Thus, users, such as citizens, businesses and government agencies could share information and interoperate with each other by publishing and subscribing to services on the platform through dedicated interfaces,” he said, stressing that it would aid the MDAs in retaining independence in discharging statutory functions.

Remmy Nweke

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