ICN has completed migrating long-distance customers to a modern platform, and the legacy DMS500 switch is now slated for decommissioning. The effort is supported by a new public-private partnership with Aureon to ensure ongoing delivery of long-distance voice services across Iowa.
The DMS500 previously handled long-distance calls, toll-free 800 services, and direct lines for state agencies and other customers. It relied on SS7 signaling to route calls in fractions of a second, a capability that made it possible for Iowa to stay connected across the state and beyond for more than two decades.
The migration, planned for nearly a year, aimed to deliver zero service interruptions. Through close coordination with Aureon and local telephone providers, ICN transitioned customers to a modern long-distance platform with no action required from customers themselves. The effort builds on ICN’s ongoing modernization of its network infrastructure.
Benefits of the transition include reduced overhead and monthly operational costs, greater efficiency from eliminating older, hard-to-maintain equipment, and future-proofing Iowa’s critical communications by reducing dependence on obsolete hardware and supply chains.
With migration complete in February 2026, the decommissioning phase is officially underway. ICN’s facilities team is clearing out equipment to make room for new service opportunities while the state continues its network modernization, including related advancements such as a recently announced 100G route to Denver.
