Otago University speeding up its links

Otago University is spending $4.2 million on a superfast 10 gigabit per second network linking campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland.

Martin Anderson, Otago University information services director, said the three-year network upgrade from Cisco Systems would help data to be sent more efficiently.

Students, lecturers, researchers and administration staff were all becoming increasingly reliant on high-speed networking, he said.

Also about to start is a wireless network trial in association with the university's business school.

Mr Anderson said "WiFi" wireless connectivity was a natural progression especially with more students now using laptop computers.

The upgrade will introduce a range of added benefits for students, including access to course materials from halls of residence and the development of wireless networks that will reduce pressure on computer resource rooms. Also possible on the network is IP telephony, although not immediately.

Cisco's partner, Logical CSI, is in charge of integrating and rolling out the network, which will be complete by the start of the new academic year.