Telecommunications Modernization

UA Little Rock has a 20-year-old Centrex telephone system. The system consists of legacy technology that includes a campus-deployed telephone switch that exists within the data center, 2 remote access nodes (1in the Plaza and 1 in the Residence Halls), and traditional telephone trunks or circuits to transport calls to and from campus. Additionally, various remote campus entities such as the School of Law and the Benton School leverage stand-alone contracts with various disparate telephone vendors.

As of May 2018, UA Little Rock signed an agreement with Windstream to provide a Voice over IP (VoIP) service that can be leveraged throughout the entire enterprise and at remote campus locations.  Additionally, it is expected that when fully transitioned, the campus could realize significant yearly cost savings. The service will leverage the new network infrastructure deployed across campus and will require UA Little Rock to assume much of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of moves, adds, and changes that are required within the environment.

This modernization of the telecommunication infrastructure provides UA Little Rock an ideal opportunity to re-evaluate how telephone service is provided across campus. Of paramount inquiry is the determination of the telephone number assignment.

The University has a strategic goal to increase service levels, expand feature sets and deliver cost savings. A single solution addressing communications needs for the 21st Century.

Project Milestones

• Additional Documentation