Centralized Management and Control Architecture for the Defense Commercial Telecommunications Network (DCTN)

This paper describes the centralized management and control of the Defense Commercial Telecommunications Network (DCTN). DCTN is a large integrated voice/video/data network that AT&T is providing for the Defense Communications Agency (DCA). The network is almost entirely digital and makes use of both terrestrial and satellite facilities; the modern digital technology makes possible a proactive approach to maintenance, with performance monitoring enabling troubles to be detected and corrected before having impact on service.