At the peak of its service, the Indiana Telecommunications Network (ITN) was the largest and most diverse network in Indiana, providing video, data, and voice services to the state's public sector.

ITN made an important impact on the way educational, governmental, public, and social services were delivered and administered in the state, providing cost-effective access to vast amounts of shared information. With nearly 2,000 circuits, it connected college and university campuses, K-12 schools, local and state government offices, learning centers, County Extension Services, public libraries, and other public sector users.

ITN background

Planning for a shared data network for Indiana's higher education institutions began in January 1991, and two years later IHETS began connecting member colleges and universities to the Indiana Data Network, or INDnet.

Building that network provided member institutions with access to high-speed Internet connectivity for basic communications, library automation exchange, and enhanced instruction through the 1990s. It also provided the foundation for converging services such as video conferencing, streaming, and video on-demand for researchers, instructors, and students.

In 1987, Governor O'Bannon signed legislation creating the Indiana Telecommunications Network Commission, or Intelenet Commission. The purpose of the commission was to arrange for a statewide voice/data/video network serving the needs of state and local government, libraries, law enforcement and judicial agencies, elementary/secondary education, higher education, and related public sector organizations.

Because IHETS was the state's first and most extensive user of a fiber-optic network for video services, it was engaged in state-level planning through the 1990s. In 1998, Intelenet asked IHETS to expand INDnet and serve a broad range of public sector partners. That network became the Indiana Telecommunications Network (ITN).

In 2005, state officials determined that a commercial network manager was better positioned to operate its network. That fall, the state's Department of Education engaged the services of ENA to serve the Indiana K-12 community and their circuits were migrated off the ITN. The state's public libraries began the same process in the first quarter of 2006.

IHETS will continue to manage remaining ITN circuits on behalf of the state through June 30, 2006 and, possibly, for an extended contractual period beyond that date. It is currently refocusing on its core mission, however, which is serving Indiana colleges and universities.

Network traffic statistics and other useful network data are available via the IHETS Network Monitoring System.