At the height of the Clone Wars the information technology and communication systems of the HCS was second to none. The HCS invested heavily in excellent communications between it's planets and created a virtual "map" of HCS deployment through the installation of transponders on all military vehicles to create the Virtual Universe. A system later replicated by the DDS (as VR Battlefield 1.0).
However now a HCS watchdog is warning the info systems of the HCS are in decay and the communications network creaking and running out of capacity. The problem is years of under investment and upgrade projects postponed and then postponed yet again. The Virtual Universe, once the pride and joy of the HCS, has a restricted service more often than not. Transponders are not maintained and computers fail to the extent that some commanders now say it should either be fixed or shut down.
The communications network of the HCS has simply failed to keep pace with demand. Wheras years ago there was plenty of spare capacity now the average load of 92% and 100% occurs frequently causing a data bottleneck for users and further problems for Virtual Universe. HCS encryption technology has also lagged and it is suspected that the DDS can routinely break all but the highest level codes.
Captain Clone has called for new investment but the watchdog says 12 billion zarks is needed over the next 3 years just to keep the network working. Twice that to start improving the system to the level needed. With the ballistic missile, submarine and naval programmes that 12 billion simply isn't available. What is likely to happen is an emergency 1.6 billion zark programme to patch the system up but this will just literally paper over the cracks.
