The University of the Western Cape has begun work on a new voice and data network, building on the foundations of its e-learning academic programme. The infrastructure will also provide the university with high-speed internal communication facilities such as video conferencing and voice over IP (VOIP).
Having spent more than R600 000 over the past two years upgrading its aging network, the institution has invested a further R750 000 on a 3Com Gigabit networking environment.
"To meet our long-term strategy, we are installing a network that is capable of video streaming and video on demand, so that, for example, our students can interact with learning materials in new and innovative ways, such as playing back a lecture over the network," says Graham Julies, Networks and Telecommunications manager at the University of the Western Cape.
"In the meantime, we also need a solution that will give us more bandwidth to the desktop. More and more collaboration is now taking place between our departments and other institutions that make faster access critical. Our long-term goal is to have a 10/100 to the desktop and Gigabit backbone at the core."
The University of the Western Cape is also laying the communications foundations that will enable it to position itself as an important e-learning institution during the next five years.
Although UWC has a well-formulated integrated information strategy that emphasises the use of technology in teaching and learning, a detailed e-learning strategy is only now under development.
"The infrastructure that is being developed supports initiatives under way at the strategic level, as well as our efforts to build a next-generation e-learning system based on what we have learned from our first-generation system," says Derek Keats, executive director, Information and Communication Services at the University of the Western Cape.
"This will enable us to transform the way in which learning happens away from the traditional lecturer-centred model, towards putting students at the centre of the teaching and learning process."
During the design process, the network was divided into 43 distinct segments. The plan is to build 3Com Switch 4007 switches into half of these segments with the rest running on 100Mbps switches. Julies is also planning to implement 10/100Mbps to the desktop over the next three to five years as well as be in a position to prioritise traffic and manage each port if needed.
Before deciding to standardise on the 3Com-based solution as designed in collaboration with Connectivity Technologies, the university evaluated several other solutions.
"The balance between cost and quality played a key role in the decision to go with 3Com. We believe that, taking into account total cost of ownership [TCO] in terms of reliability, maintenance and support, the decision has been justified," says Julies.
"Even though 3Com was our choice over the years, we needed re-assurance by looking at other products. At the end of the day, we chose 3Com because of cost, ease of installation and low maintenance."
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