Voice Over IP Telephoney Migration Project

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2011

Four years ago, Broward County began a project to replace its legacy phone systems with an IP based solution that could add additional functionality while simultaneously reducing operating costs. The County has phone systems throughout its agencies that required either an upgrade or replacement. As such, it elected to replace the systems with a solution that could leverage its existing data network infrastructure. Several manufacturers’ phones were analyzed for functionality, compatibility, technology, initial costs, operating costs, integration with the email system, and existing data communication infrastructure. A solution was selected and phone systems that required immediate attention began to be converted to IP Telephony (Voice over IP phone system). Today, the county has converted over 97 percent of its legacy phones to IP phones, has consolidated two separate networks (voice and data) into one, and through normal attrition, eliminated six positions that were dedicated exclusively to the voice network. The new phone system and its related applications have added functionality, eliminated network complexity, improved service, and significantly reduced operating costs.