Management and Control of Interconnected Communications Networks

NATO is placing increased emphasis on the effective utilization of national military and PTT networks as an approach to achieve an early enhancement of the NATO Integrated Communications System (NICS) presently under implementation. Concepts for interconnection with national military transmission and switched networks are under active consideration to extend NICS services and enhance NICS survivability and flexibility. These concepts necessitate a much greater focus on interoperability aspects and on NATO/national interface arrangements across network boundaries for management and control. This paper highlights network management and control issues raised by these different uses of national military systems to enhance NATO communications survivability and flexibility across the threat spectrum.