DCTN: An Integrated Services Digital Network for the Department of Defense

The Defense Commercial Telecommunications Network (DCTN) has provided the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) with a dedicated, integrated network offering feature-rich digital services spanning voice, data and video capabilities. The service is provided over a unique private network designed to make efficient use of the terrestrial and satellite portions of the network in eventually connecting the 160+ locations. A major planning area is to make DCTN an Integrated Services Digital Network(ISDN). ISDN capabilities will significantly enhance the set of new services and features DCTN will offer to the customer. Initial service of DCTN was provided in 1986 with full voice, data and video teleconferencing capabilities. Discussion will begin with a description of this network including access, internodal, and service features. A planning effort for the expansion and evolution of DCTN will then be described. Plans are already underway for growing the network in several key ways. In addition to the ISDN capabilities mentioned above, there may be a substantial increase in the number of locations on the dedicated network.