Nortel Networks South Africa has donated network switch components valued at approximately R1 million for installation in what is expected to be one of the premier Information and Communication Technology (ICT) education buildings in Africa.
Nortel Networks donation will form the core of the IT infrastructure in a new purpose-built facility - which will house the Departments of Computer Science and Information Systems at Rhodes University - and will enable the university to build a totally resilient and reliable network. As well as providing core services for the new building, the infrastructure will extend and back up the existing Nortel Networks equipment already operational within the Rhodes University campus network.
Says Billy Morgan, Chief Technical Officer for the Department of Computer Science: "Having a partnership such as this enables us to provide the cutting-edge technical platform required to ensure that the Departments of Computer Science and Information Systems remain world leaders in ICT education. This partnership will benefit all ICT students and not just a select group of postgraduate students or researchers."
"Through this project, we have established a valued relationship with Rhodes University. But above all, this project has provided an opportunity for the development of a collaborative strategy between the Information Technology Division of Rhodes University and the Departments of Computer Science and Information Systems. This will ultimately result in an improved network infrastructure of benefit to the entire Rhodes community," says Tony Wilson, Enterprise director at Nortel Networks.
Says Dr David Woods, Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University: "We are delighted at the Nortel Networks donation, and realize that it is being made during a difficult financial time in the ICT business. We are thankful for this demonstration of confidence in Rhodes University`s ICT programmes. Without Nortel Networks support this technology would be beyond our reach."
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