ICON (Intra Government Communications Network)
What is ICON?
ICON (Intra Government Communications Network) is a cabling system providing dedicated point-to-point links for Australian Government agencies across the ACT. This cabling is provided through use of an underground system of fibre optic cables and conduits with fibre termination panels (FOBOTs) located within user premises.
ICON assists agencies with their intra- and inter-communications needs by supplying “dark fibre” connections between their various locations throughout the ACT. Agencies supply and maintain the equipment that activates ( “lights”) the fibre. Similar to a transportation system, ICON supplies the roads (fibre pathways), the agencies own the vehicles (data services) that travel on it. As ICON is a passive network, it has no monitoring capability and is dependent on the Agencies informing ICON if the fibre connections are disrupted.
How is ICON Administered?
ICON is administered by a management team with the support of two committees made up of stakeholder representatives. The ICON Management Team (IMT) is responsible for the day to day operations of the ICON fibre network. The committees involved with ICON are, the Shared Communication Services Governance Committee (SCSGC) and the ICON Users Group (IUG). The SCSGC provides strategic direction, it is a sub-committee of the Chief Information Officer Committee (CIOC). Agencies that use ICON are members of the IUG. The IMT reports on operational matters to both committees on a regular basis.
ICON Governance Structure [Text Version]
Shared Communications Services Governance Committee (SCSGC)
The SCSGC is responsible for overseeing and providing strategic direction to the ICON operations and development. This includes:
- approval and regular review of the ICON Business Plan;
- development of the strategic plan for ICON;
- identification of key policy, administrative, technological and other issues which may affect ICON service delivery or strategic development;
- communication with stakeholders; and
- monitoring and improving ICON service performance, including service level agreements with ICON client agencies.
The SCSGC will provide advice to the Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation, the Chief Information Officer Committee (CIOC) and the Secretaries’ Committee on ICT (SCICT) on matters relating to ICON.
- Membership of the SCSGC currently comprises:
- Australian Government Information Management Office (AGIMO) – Chair;
- Department of Finance and Deregulation - (FeSG);
- Department of Defence;
- Centrelink;
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
- Attorney-General’s Department;
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations;
- Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; and
- Small agency representative.(Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs).
ICON Governance Framework
ICON governance consists of the leadership, organisational structures and processes to ensure that the ICON service sustains and extends the Australian Government’s ICT service delivery strategies and objectives.
The operational governance framework for ICON is based on the internationally recognised Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL), IT Service Management Framework (ISO 20000), and the Control Objectives for Information and Related Technology (CobiT) Framework.
Contact for information on this page: ICON Contacts