Feasibility Study for a
Statewide Higher Education Information Technology Network
State of Connecticut, September 18, 1996
Possible Technology Scenarios
Ernst & Young identified a variety of
feasible technology scenarios that would allow the State of
Connecticut to provide a higher education network while
leveraging existing technology and expenditures. These are:
- Status Quo: Maintain the current
environment - Internet used for data transfer between
institutions, the Public Switched Telephone Network
(PSTN) used for voice inter-connectivity, and no formal
network in place to support video services between
institutions.
- Status Quo plus Video: Maintain the
current environment (as mentioned above), but implement a
mechanism for inter-institution video services (e.g.,
ISDN)
- Private Frame Relay Network: Connect
all sites to CSU's private frame relay network. This
could potentially provide voice, video, and data services
to all institutions via a private network
- Public Frame Relay Network: Data
and video connectivity to all sites will be provided via
public Frame Relay service. The PSTN will be used for
voice services
- Public Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM)
Network: Use public ATM services for video and data
communications and the PSTN for voice (until public ATM
will support the transport of all three).
In addition, a list is presented of those
alternatives deemed not feasible for reasons of cost,
practicality, and/or need. These include the use of microwave and
satellite technologies, a state-owned private fiber backbone, a
hybrid network connecting each institution's current environment,
and a private leased-line network.
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