Research and Education Advanced Network New Zealand Ltd (REANNZ) announced today that it has selected hardware and connectivity providers to connect the high powered KAREN internet service to Whitireia and six other Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics in other New Zealand regions.
Don Campbell, Chief Executive of Whitireia Community Polytechnic says “our applied degree and post graduate students will benefit from the research network supported by KAREN. It will increase the speed and ease of access to new developments in applied industry practices.”
Connectivity services for six of the ITPs have been won by Gen-i that is providing cost-effective 1 Gb/s connections from the ITP back to the KAREN core. The connectivity contracts are for 55-months.
KAREN connectivity for Bay of Plenty Polytechnic will be via investment in a 20-year term dark fibre link between Rotorua and Tauranga, provided by FX Networks. This will be the first REANNZ-lit dark fibre spur on KAREN.
“The strategic investment by these ITPs to join the KAREN community has enabled us to extend KAREN’s footprint across the country, so that we can reach more of New Zealand. KAREN connectivity will also help the ITPs drive cost-efficiencies through course co-delivery and shared services,” says Donald Clark, REANNZ CEO.
In addition, REANNZ has placed an initial order for 14 Juniper MX-80s to be supplied by NEC. This new router will provide the ability for smaller organisations to connect more easily and more cheaply to KAREN. This router was chosen for its scalability and functionality.
“It is an important underscoring of REANNZ’s role as a neutral procurement specialist that through this tender we have broadened our supplier base for KAREN,” said Donald.
