New $8.4 million broadband link announced

Sep 03, 2003

The Federal and State Governments will provide $8.4 million in funding to allow for fibre optic telecommunications linking the University of Wollongong's main campus and the new Wollongong Innovation Campus at Fairy Meadow to Sydney.

"This is one of the most major infrastructure achievements in the University's history - it is of critical importance to the future of UOW," according to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton.

He said it would provide an opportunity for unrestricted growth in bandwidth over many years," Professor Sutton said.

The project is due to start later this year and is expected to take about seven months to complete. Professor Sutton said the announcement would ensure that research growth at the University would not be impeded by a lack of affordable and reliable bandwidth link to Sydney.

"This will ensure our researchers are able to work at a level comparable to their metropolitan counterparts and, in turn, colleagues of the University's researchers based in Sydney will be able to take advantage of the high bandwidth," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor said the Wollongong Innovation Campus, the most significant regional development initiative in the Illawarra for decades, could now be assured of genuine broadband access to the world at very high reliability.

The proposal resulted from collaboration between the University of Wollongong, the Office of Information Technology in the NSW Department of Commerce, the NSW Premier's Department and the NSW Rail Infrastructure Corporation's communications unit, Argus Telecommunications, and ARENAC (Australian Research Education Network Advisory Committee). Each will contribute as a stakeholder and receive benefits from the new facilities.

The total cost of the project $8.4 million comprises funds of $4.2 million from the Federal Government through ARENAC; $3.4 million from Argus Telecommunications (part of the State Rail Infrastructure Corporation); and $800,000 from the NSW Premier's Department and the University of Wollongong. The new link will form part of the AREN (Australian Research Education Network) East Princes Backbone network linking Sydney and Melbourne, via the South Coast of NSW and Gippsland in Victoria.

For further information: Contact the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Information Technology), Professor Ah Chung Tsoi on 4221 3829 or UOW's Developments Officer, Mr David Fuller on 4221 3851.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128