BCNET News
The Advanced Network will Reach Every Public, Post-Secondary Institution in B.C.
Nine public, post-secondary institutions in B.C.'s remote and rural areas will gain access to the world-class, high-speed BCNET Advanced Network thanks to a landmark $2.9M agreement between TELUS and BCNET.
The partnership forges the development of new infrastructure and expands the footprint of the Advanced Network across the Province to transform service delivery for the benefit of students, faculties and communities in remote communities in B.C. The new digital infrastructure supports the development of education, research and innovation in B.C.'s remote and rural communities.
“With the support of the B.C. Provincial Government Ministry of Advanced Education Labour, Skills & Training, we decided to take a strategic approach to connect every remaining public post-secondary campus site in B.C. to the Advanced Network,” claims BCNET President and CEO, Bala Kathiresan. “In doing so, we pooled our requirements and invited commercial tenders to help build cost-effective infrastructure investments in rural communities. TELUS offered the most innovative and cost-effective solution to meet our expansion requirements.”
“TELUS recognizes the importance of education within the province of B.C. and the importance of the role that BCNET plays in the education sector," says TELUS Director of Sales, Business Solutions West, Elisa McIntyre. “Leveraging the significant TELUS investments made in network infrastructure within the province of B.C., TELUS partnered with BCNET to extend our high speed-fibre network to institutions in B.C.’s remote communities which will help foster education and enable connectivity.”
Improving Access to New and Emerging Technologies
By leveraging the new infrastructure, institutions in B.C.’s remote communities will have powerful networks to transform service delivery for students, faculty and staff. The network infrastructure enables access to technology learning systems tools such as: digital textbooks, videoconferencing, instructional technologies and distant learning.
The network also opens new possibilities to participate in local, national and international research. The BCNET Network is part of a larger network — Canada’s National Research and Education Network (NREN). It connects Canadians to national and global data, tools, colleagues and classrooms that fuel the engine of innovation in today's digital economy.
Bala Kathiresan says, "Now rural and remote campuses can join other public, post-secondary institutions in the province in adopting and delivering shared information technology services.”