Transport Scotland Networking: FOI release

Information requested

Thank you for your request dated 22 June 2023 under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA). As your request for information covers a number of discrete questions, your questions will be re-stated one-by-one along with the corresponding response provided for each.

Response

Under the heading of Network Lifecycle, you asked:

2a. Have you conducted a network refresh in the past 36 months?
Yes, Transport Scotland's Traffic Scotland Service have refreshed some network components in the last 36 months.

2b. If so with which area? (eg Data Centre, Enterprise Networking, Wi-Fi, Security, Collaboration)
The networking area of Collaboration.

2c. Which vendor/technology solution was chosen?
CISCO CallManager

2d. Which reseller/partner delivered the solution?
Cubic Transportation Systems Limited.

2e. Who maintains the solution?
Transport Scotland's Traffic Scotland Systems Contract (TSSC), maintains and develops the Intelligent Transport Systems that underpin the delivery of the Traffic Scotland Service. This includes the maintenance of the networking technology underpinning this Service. The TSSC is contracted to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited. The maintenance of the Cisco Call Manager solution is provided by Cubic Transportation Systems Limited and Vohkus.

2f. When does the maintenance contract expire/renewal date?
The TSSC will run unto the 4 October 2027, with the possibility of a further two single-year extensions, resulting in a maximum contract expire/renewal date of 4 October 2029.

Under the section on POC, you asked:

Have you conducted a POC (proof of concept) in the last 12 months for any of the below technology areas?:
3a. Data centre (yes/no)
No. Transport Scotland have not undertaken any POC of networking equipment in the Traffic Scotland Service in the last 12 months.

3b. Enterprise networking (yes/no)
No.

3c. Wi-Fi (yes/no)
No.

3d. Security (yes/no)
No.

3e. Collaboration/Microsoft Telephony (calling plan/operator connect/direct routing (yes/no)
No.

3f. Network monitoring (yes/no)
No.

3g. Which vendor and what equipment was tested?
No.

3h. Which partner/reseller provided the POC?
Not applicable.

3i. Was the POC successful?
Not applicable.

3j. Do you intend to use the solution in a live environment?
Not applicable.

Under the section on refresh, you asked:

Do you plan to refresh your network in the next 24 months for any of the below technology areas:-

3a. Data centre (yes/no)
No. However, a planned deliverable of the recently awarded TSSC, is to undertake an investigation and analysis of the options for a re-architecture and technological re-platform of key components of the Traffic Scotland Service. This may result in a refresh to some or all of the items 3a to 3f of the above. There is no programme recorded for undertaking such whole-sale technology refresh and should it happen it will be unlikely take place within the next 24 months.

There may be elements of items 3a to 3f which may be modified sooner to address more immediate obsolescence during the next 24 months.

3b. Enterprise networking (yes/no)
Yes.

3c. Wi-Fi (yes/no)
No.

3d. Security (yes/no)
Yes.

3e. Collaboration/Microsoft Telephony (yes/no)
No.

3f. Network monitoring (yes/no)
No.

3g. When do you plan to have the new solution implemented? (Specify date)
01 April 2024

3h. Have you/do you intend to go to RFx for this?
Any networking technology refresh required to support the Traffic Scotland Service will be delivered through the TSSC. Hence the response is No.

3i. When do you plan to go to RFx for this?
Not applicable.

Under the section on Cisco estate, you asked:

Do you have a Cisco estate for any of the below architecture, and what technology/equipment has been implemented?:-
4a. Data centre
No.

4b. Enterprise networking
Yes. The technologies used are: Dedicated Fibre and Copper networking, Private circuits, Enterprise Connect, Ethernet Connect, MPLS, IPVPN, IoT, and 4G.However, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance an exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) applies to your request. The disclosure of specific equipment used may affect the security and cyber resilience of the networking equipment and Traffic Scotland Service.

4c. Wi-Fi
No.

4d. Security
Yes. However, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance an exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) applies to your request. The disclosure of specific equipment used for security will affect that security and the cyber resilience of the service .

4e. Collaboration
Yes. Technologies used are Cisco CallManager. The equipment used is Cisco CallManager VM and Cisco VG224.

4f. Network monitoring
No.

Under the heading of Cisco Support, you asked:

Cisco Support
5a How are you currently supporting your Cisco estate?
Cubic Transportation Systems Limited, as the TSSC contractor provide tier 1 to 3 software support. Vohkus provide support to Cubic. Amey Owen Williams Limited, as the Traffic Scotland Operations and Infrastructure Lot 2 - Infrastructure contractor provides hardware support.

5b. Which company sells/provides you with support?
Vohkus provides support to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited, as the TSSC contractor.

5c. If you outsource support, for which aspects?
Break/Fix hardware replacement.

5d. How do you keep your equipment/software up to date?
The TSSC, maintains and develops the Intelligent Transport Systems that underpin the delivery of the Traffic Scotland Service. This includes the maintenance of the networking technology underpinning this Service. The TSSC is contracted to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited. While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance an exemption under section 30(c) of FOISA (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs) applies to your request. The disclosure of information on how networking equipment/software is kept up to date may affect the security and cyber resilience of the service.

Under the heading of Cisco Partner/Reseller, you asked:

Cisco Partner/Reseller
6a. Who is the supplier/reseller for Cisco hardware/software?
The TSSC, maintains and develops the Intelligent Transport Systems that underpin the delivery of the Traffic Scotland Service. This includes the maintenance of the networking technology underpinning this Service. The TSSC is contracted to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited. Vohkus and Softcat provide partner/reseller support through Cubic.

6b. Do you have a preferred supplier agreement for Cisco hardware/software?
The TSSC, maintains and develops the Intelligent Transport Systems that underpin the delivery of the Traffic Scotland Service. This includes the maintenance of the networking technology underpinning this Service. The TSSC is contracted to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited. As such the preferred supplier for Cisco hardware/software is Cubic, with Cubic receiving preferred supplier support from Vohkus and Softcat.

6c. When do these supplier agreements expire?
The TSSC will run until 4 October 2027, with the possibility of a further two single-year extensions, resulting in a maximum contract expire/renewal date of 4 October 2029.

6d. How long has the current supplier relationship existed?
The TSSC became operational on the 4 October 2022. However the relationship between Cubic, Vohkus and Softcat has been for more than 10 years.

Under the heading Cisco Enterprise Agreement (EA), you asked:

Cisco Enterprise Agreement (EA)

7a. Do you have a Cisco (EA)?
No.

7b. When is your (EA) contract expiry/renewal date?
Not applicable

7c. Who provides/resells your Cisco (EA)?
Not applicable

Under the section on HP/Aruba estate, you asked:

Do you have an HP/Aruba estate for any of the below architectures, and what technology/equipment has been implemented?:-
8a. Data centre
No.

8b. Enterprise networking
No.

8c. Wi-Fi
No.

8d. Security
No.

8e. Collaboration
No.

8f. Network monitoring
No.

Under the heading of HP/Aruba Support, you asked: HP/Aruba Support
9a How are you currently supporting your HP/Aruba estate? Not applicable.

9b. Which company sells/provides you with support?
Not applicable.

9c. If you outsource support, for which aspects?
Not applicable.

9d. How do you keep your equipment/software up to date?
Not applicable.

Under the heading of HP/Aruba Partner/Reseller, you asked:

HP/Aruba Partner/Reseller
10a. Who is the supplier/reseller for HP/Aruba hardware/software?
Not applicable.

10b. Do you have a preferred supplier agreement for HP/Aruba hardware/software?
Not applicable.

10c. When do these supplier agreements expire?
Not applicable.

10d. How long has the current supplier relationship existed?
Not applicable.

Under the heading of HP/Aruba Enterprise Agreement (EA), you asked: HP/Aruba Enterprise Agreement (EA)
11a. Do you have an HP/Aruba (EA)?
Not applicable.

11b. When is your (EA) contract expiry/renewal date?
Not applicable.

11c. Who provides/resells your HP/Aruba (EA)?
Not applicable.

Under the heading of Telephony, you asked:

12a. Do you have ISDN Lines?- Supplier, quantity (lines), contractual position
No.

12b. Do you have PSTN Lines? - Supplier, quantity (lines), contractual position.
Yes. The supplier is BT. The quantity of active PSTN lines is 26. PSTN lines have been purchased historically through a Crown Commercial Services Framework.

12c. Do you have SIP Channels? - Supplier, quantity (channels), contractual position.
Yes. The supplier is Vodafone. The quantity is 120 per site. These are procured through a Crown Commercial Services Framework.

12d. Have you started/completed projects to prepare for the PSTN switch-off?
We have migrated several PSTN connections. SIP will not disappear. Copper/PSTN is used at some remote locations, these will be provided with alternate communications i.e. an ATA by the circuit provider.

12e. Which technology partner assisted in your PSTN switch-off readiness project?
The TSSC, maintains and develops the Intelligent Transport Systems that underpin the delivery of the Traffic Scotland Service. This includes the maintenance of the networking technology underpinning this Service. The TSSC is contracted to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited. As such Cubic will assist with any PSTN switch off readiness projects.

12f. Would you describe your organisation as entirely ready for the PSTN switch-off?
Such information is not held on file.

12g. PBX (phone system) Make & Model (eg Avaya, Cisco, Mitel), contractual position
Cisco Unified Call Manager, which is under maintenance from Cubic as the TSSC contractor.

12h. Who maintains your PBX (phone system)
The TSSC, maintains and develops the Intelligent Transport Systems that underpin the delivery of the Traffic Scotland Service. This includes the maintenance of the networking technology underpinning this Service. The TSSC is contracted to Cubic Transportation Systems Limited.
This includes the maintenance of the Cisco Call Manager solution is provided by Cubic Transportation Systems Limited and Cisco.

12i. How long has the relationship with the maintainer been in place?
The TSSC became operational on the 4 October 2022. However the relationship between Cubic and Transport Scotland preceded the TSSC, to before the predecessor contract of the TSSC, which was awarded in 1 October 2015.

12j. Are you considering or interested in Microsoft Telephony (eg Calling Plans, Direct Routing, Operator connect)?
No.

Public interest test:

The exemptions referenced in the responses above are subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is some public interest in release because it allows the public and commercial organisations to understand our networking estate. However, this is outweighed by the public interest in maintaining the resilience and security of the Traffic Scotland Service.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.