UDMessenger

Volume 12, Number 4, 2004


UD & State share benefits
of high-speed data network

A partnership between the University and the state of Delaware has provided access to a high-speed data network that is expected to meet the current and future needs of both UD and the state Department of Technology and Information (DTI).

In November, City Signal Communications, a leading provider of metro dark-fiber optic networks in the Mid-Atlantic region, completed construction of a network that supplies the infrastructure for UD's access to the Internet and to the Abilene Network, commonly known as Internet2. The 100-mile fiber ring, which carries data at 10 billion bits per second, provides virtually unlimited bandwidth to the University and results in lower fixed costs.

UD and DTI formed a partnership to share new and existing network resources. In working together, and with the addition of City Signal's state-of-the-art fiber network, they created a redundant fiber connection that not only provides increased bandwidth but also ensures critical redundancy for the state's information transport network.

"The partnership is a demonstration of the value of collaboration and sharing resources," President David P. Roselle said in announcing the project. "The fiber ring provides access to the Internet at an increase in speed of more than 20 times, with no increase in cost. It also will facilitate research and instructional use of Internet2 for our students, faculty and staff."

"We are pleased to be extending our relationship with DTI," Susan Foster, UD vice president for information technologies, says. "We look forward to collaborating with them to use and manage the network in ways that are mutually beneficial."

The partnership also is a significant milestone for the state, according to Thomas Jarrett, chief information officer for Delaware. "Building collaborative partnerships that benefit the state of Delaware is one of the primary goals of the Department of Technology and Information," he says. "By leveraging our existing relationship with the University of Delaware and partnering with City Signal, we will be able to provide better-quality service to state agencies, which in turn service state taxpayers and business entities from around the world."

In improving its data network, DTI's collaboration with UD fulfilled a variety of goals, including: significantly increasing bandwidth for the same price that was paid before; gaining a secondary network provider to allow for redundancy and the ability to support critical, bandwidth-intensive initiatives such as e-Government and video applications; a redundant fiber connection to competitively priced Internet and Internet2 service providers in Philadelphia; and the opportunity for enhanced collaboration with UD on future technological initiatives.

"City Signal is certainly proud to be entrusted with carrying much of the critical data traffic generated by the University of Delaware and the state Department of Technology and Information," John Foley, City Signal president and CEO, says. "The collaboration and shared vision of these two prestigious entities will result in a world-class network in the state of Delaware. At the same time, integrating City Signal's dark fiber network will allow them to cut fixed transport costs and improve the speed and efficiency of their applications."