VoIP breaks into the Pentagon

Hackers have tried it with varying success for decades, but breaking into the Pentagon proved much easier for VoIP after General Dynamics was selected to upgrade the communications at the US Department of Defence.

The American defence industry contractor already had a renovation contract with the Pentagon from 2002 following 9/11, but this has now been modified to bring more up-to-date IT systems into the building.

"Voice-over-internet-protocol is the next step in developing a 21st-century, network-centric IT infrastructure for the Pentagon," said Dan Busby, vice president and general manager for army infrastructure at General Dynamics Information Technology.

The project will install a VoIP platform with enough functions and capabilities to cope with the varied demands of the military complex and its outside users.

General Dynamics will therefore provide call processing support, different levels of service including a priority line, as well as continued support for older telephone equipment.