ARLINGTON, VA, September 30, 2004 -- The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) announced that the Department of Defense's (DoD) Global Information Grid-Bandwidth Expansion (GIG-BE) program reached initial operational capability (IOC) today at the first six Joint Staff-approved locations. This achievement marks another milestone met on time as the GIG-BE program strives to reach full operational capability in September 2005.

"GIG-BE is supporting 'Internet-like' capabilities over state-of-the-art optical networking technology to implement a core network that interconnects critical DoD and intelligence facilities throughout the world," said Tony Montemarano, GIG-BE program director. "The use of advanced optical networking technologies will help eliminate bandwidth as a concern for these locations while the embedded internet protocol router networks will facilitate net-centric operations."

"As a transformational initiative, the GIG-BE IOC marks a significant foundational piece in the future of high-speed, high-capacity network capability for the DoD," said Lieutenant General Harry D. Raduege, DISA director. "It will facilitate rich new net-centric opportunities for our Nation's warfighters and those who support them, and addresses one of DoD's transformational goals of leveraging information technology to connect troops and their operations."