Network Initiatives

Leveraging Boston Optical Network


The City of Boston is effectively leveraging the investment made in our Citywide fiber optic network – BoNet (Boston Optical Network). This investment was an early step in our strategy to “connect the city”. BoNet today connects more than 200 city locations, providing tremendous value as bandwidth requirements increase across all City functions. In 2011, the City implemented VOIP (voice over IP) telephony solutions in City Hall, Public Safety and the Boston Public Libraries. With redundant VOIP cores, the City has been able to eliminate costly Verizon Centrex service in several departments. BoNet is also the foundation for our Enterprise Video project, addressing the increased demand for video services across the city with a common architecture and standards. The City BoNet locations are also serving as important fiber access points (FAPs), providing robust backhaul to WiFi services being deployed across the City. In 2011, the Boston Common and several other sections of the city were cost effectively “lit” with BoNet bringing the traffic to our internet access points.

Boston Optical Network & City Phone System

Like most government organizations, the City of Boston depends on phone and data communications to support the provisioning of essential services to its citizens by its employees. When the networks and phone systems in the City began to show their age, the City’s DoIT staff realized that potential performance issues were on the horizon. And so BONET (Boston Optical Network), Boston’s converged IP network, came to life.  BONET has enhanced the citywide network to deliver innovative new services to constituents and improve public safety and employee responsiveness.

Building on BONET’s success, one of the most recent innovations has been to centralize the deployment and management of the City’s phone systems by installing VOIP (Voice Over IP) via Unified Communications and the Cisco Call Management suite.  This solution is effective, cost controlling secure and manageable, as well as scalable to support new applications as the City’s needs change. Converging the City’s voice and data eliminates many of the expenses associated with leased lines and annual maintenance. VOIP makes phone communications more efficient and easier to manage via a centralized design.

Although in its early stage, City is committed to deploying Cisco IP phones throughout its departments to reduce costs and bring new features to all.  Over the next three to five years, as recurring costs continue to drop, we expect our Cisco VOIP network to save approximately $1.8 million in annual recurring costs.

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a communications capability, which combines elements of current telephone and data technologies, allowing the ability to make phone calls over IP-based data network. Transitioning to VOIP presents an opportunity to leverage our existing fiber network and includes many benefits for the City and users: 

  • Reduction in phone service and equipment costs (currently a major ITC expenditure);
  • Provision of a unified messaging platform (voice mail, email, fax and mixed media) with no monthly costs;
  • Replacement of current phone equipment with new Cisco VOIP phones;
  • Creation of a centralized employee phone directory; and
  • Configuring phones (e.g. call forwarding and speed dial) via a web browser from any location. 

Broadband Strategy

The City’s broadband strategy is also pushing to increase bandwidth and broadband adoption across the city. In conjunction with our Sustainable Broadband Adoption (SBA) programs, we were able to agree on a program with Comcast that provided reduced cost Broadband service for all of our SBA program participants. This was implemented in February of 2011. Comcast has subsequently announced their national “internet essentials” program providing low cost service for K-12 students that are income qualified for school free lunches. 

Initiatives by Category

Initiatives by Work Unit