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8 November 2004
Research link a step closer
The Advanced Network has moved a step closer.
By ADRIAN BATHGATE
An advanced network linking academic and research institutions with gigabit data connections has moved a step closer.
The Research, Science and Technology Ministry has issued tender documents to telcos wishing to provide the infrastructure.
The ministry wants respondents to demonstrate that they understand how a research-based network will differ from a standard network.
From the responses, it will establish a "scenario" to secure funding for the network from government and institutional sponsors.
The Advanced Network has been championed by the Next Generation Internet (NGI) Society, which has called for the development of a high-speed network for three years. Such networks are commonplace in other Western countries.
NGI Society acting chief executive Simon Riley says New Zealand is struggling to catch up with Fiji, which launched a similar network last month.
However, he says the society is happy to see the tender come out and some progress made on the issue.
The network is expected to cost tens of million of dollars. It will probably start out carrying information at 1 gigabit per second, moving up to 40 gigabits per second after a few years.
The ministry expects more than one supplier will be needed to build the network.
Telcos can bid to build any parts of the network at different times, which Mr Riley says is an indication the project will be done in stages.
The first stage, which may be completed next year, will be to link 15 tertiary education and research sites in the main centres.
"It's a compromise between a short-term fix and a long-term solution," Mr Riley says.
Network vendors will have to put their proposals to the ministry by the end of January.
Courtesy The Dominion Post
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