Qwest to Increase Internet2's Speed

Qwest and the Internet2 educational consortium will speed up the network to 10 Gbps (up from 2.5 Gbps) over the next five years.

by Bob Woods of internetnews.com [December 13, 2001]

Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE:Q) and Internet2, a university-led research and development consortium, today announced a new five-year agreement to quadruple the Abilene Internet2 network's capacity. Qwest's investment in the improvement of the Abilene Internet2 network is valued at $300 million, officials said.

The new agreement will increase the Abilene Internet2 network's capacity to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps) through the use of optical-networking technologies—meaning that it will be able to send 9.7 million five-paragraph e-mails in one second, officials said. After the upgrades are done, the network will be "one of the most advanced and far-reaching educational research networks in the world."

More than 190 universities and research centers use the Abilene Internet2 network to create and test data and video applications shared by scientists, teachers, and students. These applications help the institutions in their research areas, like cancer research, artificial intelligence, robotics, and early warning of earthquakes.

Since its launch three years ago, the Abilene Internet2 network has connected universities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico; peers with 37 international research and education networks; and includes participation by 17 state education networks, officials also said.

The Abilene network was developed by a partnership that included Qwest, Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, and Indiana University.

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