TMCnet News
BridgeWave Intros High Capacity Network Connectivity to Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological PreserveOct 17, 2010 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- BridgeWave Communications, a supplier of high capacity solutions for next generation 4G backhaul, announced that Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (JRBP) deployed several gigabit wireless links to enable connectivity to the main Stanford campus. The ultra-high capacity links are used to transport rich-content data comprised of critical scientific research. Housed on more than 1,189 acres, the JRBP contributes to the understanding of the Earth's natural systems through research, education, and protection of the preserve's resources for researchers from around the globe. A refuge to native plants and animals, JRBP has been used for scientific studies since the opening of Stanford University. Since that time, 165 dissertations have involved research on the preserve, 335 publications have reported research at JRBP and students have submitted more than 400 papers resulting from studies conducted at JRBP. Throughout the preserve, JPRB utilizes wireless data collection instrumentation that automatically uploads research data to the main campus. However, the backhaul links that tied this mesh network on the preserve to the campus was antiquated and not capable of providing high bandwidth connections needed to support ongoing research. Stanford considered laying fiber from the facility to the preserve; however the investment was cost-prohibitive, both in the initial cost and recurring expenses. Additionally, there were serious environmental concerns as the preserve is extremely fragile and trenching a fiber line would have long-lasting implications to the delicate ecosystem. Matt Riley, director of information services, school of humanities and sciences, and his team sought to find an affordable solution that would offer fiber-like capacity and could be easily and quickly deployed. Given the highly scalable, future-proof links and BridgeWave's reputation for affordable, easy-to-deploy, fiber-equivalent radios, Stanford chose BridgeWave's technology as the best solution for their needs. Pacific Communications (www.rsn-paccomm.com), a wireless communications solution provider, worked with Stanford to identify and install BridgeWave's BW80X radios. Upon deployment, the radio performance exceeded Stanford's expectations and with more than ample bandwidth for future expansion plans, Stanford is considering centralizing the network to the main campus and enabling VoIP. "I did my research so I knew what to expect as far as availability and speed, yet I was still blown away. Not only was the connectivity top notch, but this deployment will save Stanford a considerable amount of money - nearly $30-40,000 a year in recurring costs," said Riley. "Most importantly, we were able to quickly deploy a wireless network for researchers without disrupting the natural preserve, which is something we were incredibly concerned about." Researchers at JPRB previously weren't able to download video or transfer large files, since supporting email and providing access to some of the administrative applications from the main campus was all the network could handle. "BridgeWave's gigabit wireless links have lifted all restrictions and researchers are now able to utilize the network at will. They use it with confidence and they don't need to worry that their colleague seated in the next office is being impacted by what they're doing," added Riley. "One of the greatest benefits our high capacity wireless solutions offer is the ability to provide fiber-equivalent network connectivity without the infrastructure costs," said Amir Makleff, president and CEO of BridgeWave. "In the case of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, researchers are now able to work seamlessly without losing connectivity or running into bandwidth issues, while also enabling greater productivity and efficiency for the university." The campus learned firsthand that BridgeWave's BW80X radios truly are a high-speed, fiber alternative that truly supports large amounts of data. "The speed really is better than we expected," noted Philippe S. Cohen, Ph.D., administrative director at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. "Our network connectivity remains competitive with Stanford's main campus network." More information: http://www.bridgewave.com/solutions/casestudies.cfm www.bridgewave.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |