NSW Telco Authority Moves to Resolve Degradation with HCI Refresh

NSW Telco Authority is taking crucial steps to address performance issues within its emergency radio network’s IT system by initiating a comprehensive infrastructure refresh. The authority’s Public Safety Network (PCN), a dedicated communication network that serves emergency responders and essential government agencies, is built on the RADNET platform, a critical operational and IT infrastructure. However, the existing system, which relies on an ageing Dell-Nutanix hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), is experiencing significant performance degradation, which has been a growing concern for the Authority.

The current infrastructure has reached its end-of-life, and the systems are no longer meeting the demanding performance standards required for a public safety network. The Dell-Nutanix HCI that supports RADNET’s IT environment, currently running VMware vSphere, is responsible for hosting the majority of the network’s servers and applications. With an HCI setup spread across 12 nodes across two data centres in Sydney and hosting approximately 200 virtual machines, the system has reached its capacity to reliably support the critical operations of the Public Safety Network.

To resolve these challenges and ensure the continued functionality of RADNET, NSW Telco Authority has launched a tender process seeking proposals for an infrastructure upgrade. The goal is to replace the legacy HCI by June of the following year, marking a critical step in ensuring the long-term health and performance of the emergency communications network. This refresh is seen as a necessary response to the current infrastructure’s limitations and the growing needs of the Public Safety Network, which serves essential services like emergency medical teams, police forces, fire departments, and other government agencies that rely on seamless communication.

The plan involves migrating the virtual machines (VMs) from the existing system to a more modern infrastructure, with the Authority considering two primary options for the upgrade: an updated version of VMware vSphere or Nutanix AHV (Acropolis Hypervisor). The migration will not only aim to improve system performance but also ensure scalability, allowing the Public Safety Network to grow with future demands. The new infrastructure will also include the deployment of five new clusters, which will run either Nutanix or VMware vSphere ESXi, to support the overall system’s efficiency and performance.

One of the main objectives of the infrastructure refresh is to optimize the management of Kalibre, a critical performance monitoring tool used by the Authority to gain insights into the RADNET system’s operations. To enhance the governance and management of the network, the Authority intends to allocate four of the new clusters specifically to support Kalibre’s responsibilities. This approach will consolidate oversight and responsibility for system performance, improving efficiency and ensuring better management of resources.

In addition to supporting the migration and performance improvements, the project also presents an opportunity to strengthen the resilience and security of the infrastructure. By adopting the latest technology solutions, NSW Telco Authority aims to better align its IT environment with the evolving needs of its users, ensuring that it can continue to meet the demands of emergency services and government agencies that depend on the Public Safety Network.

The successful completion of this infrastructure refresh is crucial for maintaining the Public Safety Network’s ability to provide fast, reliable, and secure communication for frontline workers. In a dynamic and often unpredictable environment, it is essential for the infrastructure supporting these services to be able to scale quickly, integrate seamlessly with new technologies, and continue to deliver high-quality performance. This project also highlights NSW Telco Authority’s commitment to the ongoing improvement of its services, ensuring that public safety communications remain robust and reliable for years to come.

As the tender process moves forward and the new infrastructure is implemented, NSW Telco Authority is focused on ensuring that the Public Safety Network remains an indispensable tool for emergency and essential services, meeting the high standards of performance and reliability required for such a critical communication system. The completion of the migration and infrastructure refresh is expected to significantly enhance the performance and capabilities of RADNET, ensuring that NSW Telco Authority can continue to meet the demands of its diverse and vital user base.