The Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network (GAATN) in Austin, Texas provides for the expansion of computer LAN and WAN facilities for the GAATN participants. It also provides a capability for delivery of data, text, voice, and video information and services across the entire metropolitan area. It is presently being used by participants for high-speed data networking.
There are Token Ring, Ethernet, FDDI, Sonet and ATM connections between participants' sites. There is Internet data routing between entities at high speeds. Participants connect to the Internet over GAATN. It is also being used to provide for voice interconnections between participant's sites. Distance learning classes for AISD, ACC and UT are presently provided on GAATN. The state of Texas provides Tex-an III services over GAATN between state agencies. ACC and AISD provide the telephone service between all their sites on GAATN.
The savings to public entities will increase as staff increases and new services are offered. Due to the growth in the number of users, volume of information and services, the GAATN participants will have no choice but to continue expanding their networks to meet rising demand. Governmental entities have tended to lease telecommunications or build their own. The governing bodies in Austin chose a third path by approaching the problem from a long range cooperative planning perspective rather than reacting on an individual basis. This cooperation provided a solution that:
The network is designed in physical ring configurations, rather than a tree and branch scheme. The system consists of ten rings. There is a North and a South Super Ring that emanates from a central Austin location. The North Super Ring connects to five sub rings where participants sites are connected. The South Super Ring connects to three sub rings where participants sites are connected. There are over 275 participant sites on the GAATN rings. Each ring contains individual single mode fibers owned by each entity.
Each GAATN participant deployed its own equipment on its own strands of fiber. Participants have implemented proprietary fiber technology, FDDI technology, Sonet technology, and analog video on their fibers. ACC and AISD have implemented telephone systems that provide four digit common dialing between sites. The emergency notification system for a multi-county area utilizes GAATN for high speed bandwidth in order to transmit geographical information to expedite emergency service delivery.
GAATN provides the platform for public entities to provide more efficient services for governmental and educational functions with cutting edge technology on a state-of-the-art fiber system.
In 2002, the Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network was one of nine Texas state government information technology projects that received a "Best of Texas" award from the Center for Digital Government and Government Technology magazine.
Last modified 2007-06-27
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Greater Austin Area Telecommunications Network (GAATN)
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*The Interlocal Agreement is located on the City of Austin Website