WASHINGTON – CenturyLink, Inc. (NYSE: CTL) recently won a contract from the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) that could be worth a total of $1.7 million over the next five years.
The company will provide a fiber optic system that is buried in steel pipe encased in concrete conduit to protect it from the effects of high altitude electromagnetic pulses (HEMP), ensuring continuity of service and survivability. The system operates continuously among Schriever Air Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base and Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, thus delivering uninterrupted fiber connectivity among the three air bases in the Colorado Springs, Colo., area.
This contract, which includes telecommunications services, network systems, equipment and maintenance, follows a previous procurement for these services that was also awarded to CenturyLink.
CenturyLink’s HEMP-protected fiber optic system supports the Colorado Springs Survivable Communications Network, a private synchronous optical network that is capable of sustained operations in the presence of nuclear threats so that critical voice, message, video and data communications can continue to reach command authorities quickly and reliably.
“CenturyLink is proud to provide its patented high altitude electromagnetic pulse-protected communications system to the Department of Defense and to again be awarded this contract to ensure network continuity and survivability,” said Diana Gowen, CenturyLink Government senior vice president and general manager.
CenturyLink is ranked No. 48 on Washington Technology’s 2013 Top 100 list of federal government IT contractors.
