Regional Campus Connectivity Enhancements - Update September, 2013

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Dear Users,

As you would be aware from previous emails, IT Services is currently working on progressively improving connectivity for regional campuses to online resources;

This roadmap of developments have been highlighted by the following milestones/events;

·         The procurement of additional Ku-Band Satellite network capacity for USPNet in late August, 2013 and the integration of this capacity into USPNet.

·         The diversion of Internet traffic in Emalus Campus, Vanuatu onto this new capacity a few days later and the stabilization of operations across the new capacity.

o   Over the last few weeks Emalus Campus users have been enjoying more than double their previous Internet capacity.

o   Service Testing and User Survey on the performance of Internet services shows improvements in the consistency of access to online resource including student email, library databases and general online research material.

o   There were a few hiccups as ITS Engineers tweaked network settings and controls to balance between improving access for users but at the same time controlling the excessive use of this improved capacity for non-academic use.

·         Currently IT Services network engineers are in Alafua Campus, Samoa to help transition their connectivity to the new USPNet Ku-Band Capacity.

o   This should provide immediate improvements in the quality, consistency and capacity of Internet services at Alafua Campus.

o   Progress on this development should be available early next week.

·         Upon the stabilization of Alafua Campus on the new capacity, ITS will then begin to redistribute capacity on the C-Band system across remaining campuses;

o   This will be done on a campus by campus basis – and will result in an effective increase in capacity across most campuses.

o   All campus services will be tested to determine the change in performance of services.

·         In addition to these efforts, submarine fiber-optic cable capacity negotiations with providers in Tonga, Marshall Islands and Vanuatu are in advanced stages;

o   Director ITS and the Vice Chancellor will be in talks with Tonga government officials next month.

o   IT Services engineers should be commencing initial work for the termination of this capacity in Tonga shortly after discussions are finalized.

o   Similar work will commence with Vanuatu and Marshall Islands as and when negotiations with vendors are finalized.

·         Cook Islands Rarotonga Campus are also currently trialing Internet Capacity of O3B – a new satellite provider that uses Medium Earth Orbit satellites to provide higher bandwidth Internet links.

 

While this progressive improvement in capacity to regional campuses continues, IT Services will be looking to engage users in various campuses on providing their feedback on the performance of ICT services across the transitions through surveys and tests that will be conducted in your campuses.

We would also like to reinforce the use of the IT Services Helpdesk for any operational issues that may with your services – again providing the Helpdesk with clear and accurate details of your IT issues is the only way that we can utilize resources to resolving your issues.

Thank you all for your cooperation as we move towards improving ICT for the future.

Sincerely,

 

Fereti  Atalifo

Deputy Director

IT Services

University of the South Pacific

Private Mail Bag

Suva

Fiji

Ph:  +679 323 2491

Fax:  +679 323 1533

Cell:  +679 992 6506

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