Special vs Custom vs Standard? Choosing the Building Blocks-4

Continuing from last week, let us discuss an example of a bad network split. By network split, I mean that you carve out a piece of the network that you are happy to buy from one vendor independently of the rest of the network.

The Government departments usually make the worst network splits, in fact they do the opposite. They combine all the requirements into one large purchase and select a vendor who takes the responsibility to build it all for them. In fact what they do is to look for an SI or a systems integrator. The SI then works with multiple vendors to put a solution together, creating the cheapest and “most locked” solution, adding project management and services on top and delivers the network to the Government.

Let us take an example of a data network connecting all offices in a city. The network will consist of City DWDM Backbone, City Packet Core, In-building data networking including any Wi-Fi and Service Routers as well as various security devices etc. By bundling all of these and all the design, planning and support to the bidder, they end up getting a cheaper (lowest cost wins) network solution.

However, they cannot later on, expand a part of this network using a new vendor, because many of the interfaces were undefined and are proprietary in nature locking them on to expansion from same contract. They typically will add potential expansion as part of the original scope and live with it.

One might wonder why they do it this way? Let us discuss that next week.

Stay tuned!