November 12, 2007
ANN ARBOR, MI – Merit Network Inc. has completed Phase I of its fiber network expansion in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, connecting Michigan Technological University (MTU), Northern Michigan University (NMU), and Lake Superior State University (LSSU) via fiber optic cable at gigabit Ethernet speeds.
In partnership with Peninsula Fiber Network LLC and Borderland Communications, Merit was able to connect the three public universities and the rest of the U.P. network to Merit’s backbone network via fiber and leased circuits with diverse path gigabit connections.
The completed upgrades in combination with diverse gigabit connections to Chicago and the lower peninsula have doubled the amount of available bandwidth into the U.P. For the first time, networking services in the U.P. are being delivered via diverse paths at gigabit speeds.
All of this is part of Merit’s strategic effort to connect its governing Members, Michigan’s public universities, by dual path fiber connections at gigabit speeds. With the completion of the fiber connection to Lake Superior State University, every governing Member now has a minimum of one gigabit connection to Merit’s backbone network.
Networking Services in the Upper Peninsula has been a major concern for Merit Network, according to Bob Stovall, Merit Network’s Network Operations Manager.
“We still have work to do,” Stovall said, “but these are major milestones in reaching our goal of maximum network flexibility for services to our community.”
About Merit Network
Merit Network Inc., is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance. Since its formation, Merit Network has remained at the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations. For more information: www.merit.edu
About Peninsula Fiber Network
Based in Munising, Michigan, Peninsula Fiber Networks maintains fiber optic cable from Iron Mountain to Houghton, Ontonagon to Sault St. Marie and all points in between.
About Borderland Communications
Borderland Communications is a telecommunications provider in Niagara, Wisconsin, providing service to Northern Wisconsin and the Western Upper Peninsula.
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