A model for determining the cost-effectiveness of T1 transmission in certain integrated networks

The Department of Defense leases and operates a variety of distinct communications networks, some for voice transmission and others for data, at a cost of many millions of dollars per month. With the recent decline in prices for T1 facilities, a pressing question has been whether it would be cost effective to integrate several of the networks and utilize a single T1 network to satisfy both voice and data requirements. Accordingly, it is necessary to synthesize a network design capable of supporting the combined traffic (perhaps with sufficient slack incorporated to accommodate anticipated growth) and to apply accurate cost-effectiveness criteria to the resulting structure. The paper describes the theory and computational steps necessary for such comparisons, sketches the computer processing required, and reports preliminary results. The methodology is seen to be applicable to comparable communications integration problems of arbitrary generality.