Verizon Helps Texas A&M

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Advanced fiber-optic technology that splits and multiplies light waves has been deployed at Texas A&M University to dramatically increase the capacity of the university's communications network while avoiding the cost of rebuilding it.

Recently, Texas A&M called on Verizon, the school's 50-year provider for campus voice and data communications, to find ways to meet the ever-increasing demand for data and voice services at the university. Verizon deployed a form of Dense Wave Division Multiplexing (DWDM), a technology that is increasing in popularity among information technology leaders in finance, healthcare, government and education research. It multiplies the capacity of existing optical communications while adding network flexibility, allowing for almost instant expansion where needed.

Texas A&M badly needed that expansion. Over the past five years, the nation's largest land-space-and-sea-grant public research institution and fourth-largest university has faced growing demand on its communications network. The electronic needs of 45,000 students, along with the growing affinity for videoconferencing and Web-based curriculums, contributed to network congestion. At the same time, the growth of the university's renowned research programs has meant increased sharing of massive data files in collaborative work with the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group and the U.S. Forestry Service.

"This DWDM solution enables us to upgrade the network quickly and cost-effectively with a minimum of re-engineering. Verizon managed the implementation with a very rapid and trouble-free cutover and full interoperability with our existing network elements," said Dr. Walt Magnussen, Texas A&M's telecommunications director.

With its new optical gear, Texas A&M now has far greater network capacity without the need for new infrastructure and the associated capital expense. The Verizon design includes a technology from Photuris, a leader in optical distribution. The Photuris product integrates traffic ebb and flow over various technology platforms, enabling the university to meet the dynamic demands of its research programs without overloading its network.

Joseph Lucatorto, vice president-marketing, Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group, said: "Today, our customers' networks need to reach across multiple platforms so a business and its partners can communicate easily. Technologies like DWDM and networking product vendors like Photuris help us design and implement solutions that address those needs with minimal additional costs for our customers."

Verizon Communications Inc.