State of Illinois VoIP

Level-1 delivered a 70,000-line VoIP system for Illinois, transforming government communications with resilience, security, and cost savings.

In an effort to unify scattered telecommunications systems and boost digital collaboration, the State of Illinois tasked Level-1 Global Solutions with implementing an enterprise-wide VoIP system. With a project budget of $138 million, the objective was to replace disparate legacy phone systems across agencies with a single, resilient voice network, streamlining operations, enhancing user experience, and reducing long-term costs. 

For more than a decade, Level-1 has been embedded in nearly every state-owned building surveying telecommunication facilities, assessing infrastructure readiness, and recommending remediation where necessary. From the Capitol Complex to regional field offices, Level-1 has executed VoIP upgrades in data centers, telecom closets, and administrative workspaces across Illinois. 

Many locations, including the Governor’s Office, the State Treasurer’s Office, and the former James R. Thompson Center, required secure access protocols due to the sensitive nature of operations housed within. To meet these elevated security requirements, Level‑1 deployed a team of specially cleared engineers, each of whom underwent advanced background screenings and adhered to rigorous compliance procedures. This ensured that system modernization efforts were executed discreetly, efficiently, and without disrupting high-level government workflows. 

Working in partnership with Presidio®, Level‑1 executed a multiyear rollout covering over 70,000 VoIP lines statewide. This scalable, power-protected solution transformed core communications, enabling modern features such as email-integrated voicemail and desktop video conferencing. A decade-long trend in enterprise communications, this consolidation delivered tangible results. As reported in a StateScoop article, Illinois’ unified implementation eliminated 18,000 Centrex lines and nearly 190 legacy video systems, saving approximately $3.5 million since April 2018. The system was lauded for increased productivity, tighter collaboration, and operational agility. The outcome was a substantial reduction in the total cost of ownership for voice services across the state. In parallel, many municipalities facing similar cost pressures have taken cues from the state and pursued ownership of their own fiber infrastructure to further drive down recurring telecom costs and regain control over their connectivity ecosystems. 

What We Delivered 

• Unified, enterprise-scale VoIP network across all State of Illinois agencies 
• Design and deployment of a power-treated infrastructure with high resilience 
• Over 70,000 VoIP endpoints phased over approximately ten years, delivered on scope and budget 
• Integration of advanced features- voicemail to email, video conferencing, and message platforms 
• End-user training for thousands of state employees on Cisco VoIP devices and features 
• Extended maintenance plan that ensures long-term system sustainability 

By unifying voice communications, Level‑1 enabled a shift from fragmented infrastructure to a connected, future-ready government framework. The system powered greater interagency collaboration, supported remote work flexibility, and delivered cost efficiencies reaffirming that strategic technology investment can modernize governance with both fiscal responsibility and user-first thinking.