-- a Commonwealth Perspective

Infrastructure Services Model

Delegates recommended the use by national governments of a model similar to one developed by the Government of Canada, called the Infrastructure Services Model, the use of which imposes the following characteristics in the development of the required infrastructure:

• a logic based on a bottom-up evolution of "building blocks" comprising functional layers for transfer of information through basic conduits (transport layer); connection of client or server within and across network domains (network services layer); integration of applications, information and computing tools (distributed computing services layer); integration of common support applications and agency and government-wide information services (application information services layer); and provision of programme-related services to users (programme delivery services layer):

• a discipline which recognizes the many external requirements and inputs which influence the delivery of the above services, including business drivers, architecture, technology and standards:

• a common language among the various stakeholders.

Delegates recommended that the Commonwealth undertake a pro-active initiative in the development and support of national Infrastructure Services Models by;

• Promoting awareness of this approach at a policy level

• Assisting member states to adopt the model for implementation

• Track the models developed at the country level within the Commonwealth for the sharing of learning and the development of best practices.

It was agreed that COMNET-IT should provide the support to this initiative, and delegates called on Commonwealth governments to provide it with the necessary resources.