defence fixed telecommunications service (dfts)

The Defence Fixed Telecommunications Service (DFTS) Programme is a Private Finance Initiative contract between British Telecommunications (BT) and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MOD) tasked to achieve substantial savings in the current operating costs of the various voice and data network systems used by the Army, Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and MOD headquarters. The overall objective of DFTS is to lead to substantial savings in the overall annual cost of MOD fixed telecommunications, while maintaining existing levels of service and providing a flexible platform for the development and delivery of new services. DFTS system ownership transfer to private industry has generated significant savings for the British taxpayer.

The DFTS contract delivers voice, data, LAN interconnect, and other WAN services to the MOD. To achieve this all data (fixed voice and data assets, circuits, and contracts) relating to approximately 1,100 MOD bases spanning locations in the UK, Germany, and Northern Ireland, was captured. The overall system consisted of approximately 200,000 telephones, 3,000-4,000 high-speed data connections, and 2000 packet switch services. The MOD’s original configuration had 51 “stove pipe” networks, each owned by a different service organisation, and a total of about 1,000 operator assistance personnel. A prime requirement of the contract is to introduce new technology without disruption or loss of service.

Lockheed Martin, as subcontractor to British Telecommunications Plc (BT), is responsible for Programme Management of the programme. This includes the design, implementation and support for Information Technology systems, Quality Assurance, Configuration Management, Risk Management, Programme Schedule Management and a specialized Business Efficiency Team.

Links: 

• LM wins new contract on DFTS programme
• Corporate Fact Sheet