Tinker AFB Hosts One-of-a-Kind PON Technology Day
By Scott Rye, Telos' director of advanced technology, Passive Optical Networking
I recently attended a unique meeting at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where all of the major companies involved with passive optical network (PON) technology joined forces to demonstrate its benefits to one of the Air Force’s key organizations for cyberspace and IT infrastructure. To my knowledge this one-of-a-kind event was a first in the government telecommunications industry.
"You're travelling through another dimension..."
It was a little like being on an episode of The Twilight Zone, seeing major competitors all in the same room playing nice for an entire day to help each other promote the advantages of PON.
Each company was put to the test by the 38th Cyberspace Engineering Installation Group (CEIG), which tasked them to solve specific technology challenges that Air Force customers deal with in their IT environments.
Telos began the day by providing an “Introduction to PON Technology” briefing. Then we and our partners from Raytheon Trusted Computing Solutions, Network Integrity Systems and Wesco/CSC provided a briefing on secure PON technology in conjunction with Virtual Desktop Infrastructure and Cross Domain Services (VDI/CDS).
Together, these technologies form a solution that delivers analog voice, VoIP, high-speed data, IP video, RF video, fax, and access to multiple classified networks over a single fiber optic cable. The single-strand design helps the Air Force meet the growing demand for access to classified information while reducing upfront costs and consolidating their structured cabling infrastructure.