VoIP installation nearly complete at Hanscom; New process in place for morale calls

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  It's been several months since the base started to install Voice over Internet Protocol telephones and most offices and services now have new telephone numbers.

One major change personnel will notice is when calling the primary telephone number for the base.

"It's no longer a GSA operator, but an automated attendant," said Gary Smith, Operations Infrastructure chief. "The automated attendant will assist in locating services and telephone numbers and we are actively working on updating all our phone directories to provide the most up-to-date information to the automated attendant."

The new number for the base is 781-225-1110.

Because of the change, the service for directing morale welfare calls has also changed.

"Off-base personnel calling into the base to make a morale welfare call will also receive an automated attendant," said Smith. "Callers will go through a short menu and either dial a local telephone number, based on distance from Hanscom AFB, or will need to provide a calling card number that will allow a long distance call to be billed to it."

The long distance charge is from Hanscom to the destination.

Family members wishing to make a morale welfare call to their spouse overseas must go through their units, according to Smith. The unit will need to provide telephone access to the Defense Switched Network and from there, they will be able to place the call.

"The transition to VoIP has been a long, time consuming project; however, the rewards will save Hanscom approximately $1 million annually," said Smith. "We are also now on the standard Air Force dialing system with 99 (outside line) and 94 (DSN access) as internal prefixes for dialing."

In addition, the standard emergency number of 911 has now been instituted across Hanscom.
"We have invested in voice network redundancy to provide continual telephone service; however, there is still a small chance that the computer network and VoIP may go out," said Smith. "If this happens, any fax machine, Secure Telephone Equipment, polycom or building entrance telephone will still have dial tone. You can still use these devices during an emergency."

One of the many benefits of VoIP is the additional information provided to the fire department to not only tell them which building an emergency is in, but also the floor level and what section of the building, thus providing faster and more direct emergency response, Smith added.

"The VoIP system for telephones is just the beginning," he said. "VoIP is capable of doing a lot of tasks that will improve the office environment and how communication is handled. As the finishing touches are completed on the telephone installation, the engineers are starting to look at what is next for Voice over Internet Protocol."

For telephone service issues or questions, contact the Client Service Center at 781-225-HELP. For specific questions about VoIP, call Gary Smith at 781-225-0021 or Daniel Szilagyi at 781-225-0026.