USP makes direct Internet connection with global research community
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 | Mr John Isles, Network Analyst at USP's Information Technology Services, discusses the finer details of AARNet with Mr Marko Schutz, lecturer in Maths and Computing at USP. |
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The University of the South Pacific will now be able to become an active participant in the global research and education community thanks to its ability to make a direct internet connection with the Australian Academic Research Network (AARNet).
This new link provides direct access to research and education networks in Australia, North America and Japan via AARNet's interconnection points in Sydney, Hawaii, Seattle and now Suva - and from these to the global research and education community worldwide.
This ability to make this direct connection was made possible through the granting of a licence by the Fiji Government in September, 2004.
According to USP Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra the inauguration of this private connection between USP and AARNet completes the University's overall telecommunications umbrella, USPNet. He explained that through this network the University's Internet bandwith has increased from 1mbps to 155mbps.
Speaking at the inauguration on Friday, 4 March, Professor Chandra said that this increase in speed was a sea of change for USP labelling it "from a snail to a race horse".
"It will greatly increase our capacity to support the work of academics by enabling them to join overseas research teams; by allowing them to access important research activities and information and by giving them faster websites," said Professor Chandra.
For researchers, AARNet will provide access to research instruments and data from around the world. This means that researchers in the Pacific will also be able to conduct complex experiments by processing their data remotely.
"For our students, we will be able to make our flexible learning more multi-media in content using pictures audio and video. We will also be able to expand our on-line courses. We need to do this to ensure that our flexible learning and teaching can compete effectively with others as we face increasing competition from other education providers.
"USP is expected to respond to the challenge of a digital divide in the Pacific and to the challenge of providing both the number and quality of ICT related professionals. We are confident that we can so this now that we have this AARNet connection, and the Japanese Government has kindly agreed to build the Japan-Pacific ICT Centre."
AARNet was also part of this inauguration via video conferencing.
AARNet's Chief Executive Officer Mr Chris Hancock welcomed USP to the AARNet community saying that the future of education was in technology.
"This is a very good partnership and we are thrilled that USP is now part of this global education community," said Mr Hancock.
"This is a significant breakthrough."
The inauguration of AARNet is not only a historic occasion for USP but for Fiji as well. Through this connection Fiji, which is where the main USP Campus is located, becomes only the second country behind Australia, forming "Oceania" Net group of the Asia Pacific Advanced Network (APAN) consortium.
USP switched over from to AARNet late last month and according to Mr John Isles, the Network Analyst at USP's Information Technology Services, the changeover was very successful.
For researchers, AARNet will provide access to research instruments and data from around the world. This means that researchers in the Pacific will also be able to conduct complex experiments by processing their data remotely.
This link is currently only available at the Laucala Campus in Suva, Fiji, but according to Mr Isles the next step for USP will be to upgrade USPNet so that students at other campuses and centres within the region will also get the benefit of the new AARNet link.
AARNET was inaugurated by the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji Ms Jennifer Rawson. The Australian Government had given a grant of $F2 million for this project.
Professor Chandra explained that the success of AARNet was the culmination of many meetings and discussions with the various stakeholders.
He added years from now, this strategy (AARNet) together with an earlier USPNet strategy, will be regarded as having secured the future of USP, since the future of any university, organisation, or society depended on the nature, access, cost structure and proactive and effective use is ICT.
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