10 Gigabit-per-second Business Ethernet enables multi-campus collaboration and large data transfers to foster knowledge-sharing across multiple university locations 

WEST PALM BEACH – August 29, 2017 – Comcast Business today announced that Florida Atlantic University (FAU) based in Boca Raton, Florida, is using super-fast 10 gigabit per second Comcast Business Ethernet across its multiple University locations.  This technology allows students and faculty in different locations to quickly access data, collaborate on research and share information in a way that was not possible before. 

FAU is a public, research-driven institution with more than 30,000 students, offering over 180 degree programs across six campus locations throughout Florida, including Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Davie, Fort Pierce (or Harbor Branch), and Jupiter, in addition to the main Boca Raton campus. The university caters to “upper division” students who have highly specialized knowledge or skills in a particular field. 

The university’s extensive research program allows students and faculty to collaborate and share information for big discoveries and breakthroughs in the fields of science, medicine and humanities. Previously, it faced challenges with limited network service between its different campuses and the main data center, which inhibited access to research tools and resources, limiting campus-wide collaboration and impacting the university’s ability to recruit top students and faculty.

After receiving a federal grant to procure multi-gigabit service between its three largest facilities, FAU selected Comcast Business to install two 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) Ethernet Private Lines (EPL) to connect the university’s Boca Raton campus to its Jupiter location, and its data center, and between the 50-mile distance from the Jupiter campus to Harbor Branch. The 10 Gbps lines allow students and faculty working at those three locations to access data, and share and collaborate on research activities across fields of study, both within the FAU network and with other universities, fostering knowledge-sharing across campuses made possible due to the high-capacity network infrastructure.

“Research is a key part of education for any university because its provides the foundation for learning and discovery and is particularly fundamental to the culture at FAU, which focuses on providing significant resources to our students and faculty so they can advance research in a number of fields,” said Mehran Basiratmand, chief technology officer at Florida Atlantic University. “The network connections between campuses and the capacity to support downloads of bandwidth-intensive files, such as those used by oceanography and brain mapping researchers, has significantly improved the university’s ability to expand our footprint and attract top talent to participate in leading research programs.”

“As technology continues to evolve, so do the tools and learning methods used to compete for the best students and faculty,” said Rich Rollins, Vice President of Business Services for Comcast’s Central Division. “With Comcast Business Ethernet, colleges and universities can take advantage of high performance computing to further academic programs, information-sharing and collaboration that leverages today’s digital and mobile technologies. FAU has successfully built a multi-gig network that will revolutionize its research program to have a profound impact on its students and faculty, advancing its reputation as a leading educational institution.”

About Florida Atlantic University 

Florida Atlantic University, established in 1961, officially opened its doors in 1964 as the fifth public university in Florida. Today, the University, with an annual economic impact of $6.3 billion, serves more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at sites throughout its six-county service region in southeast Florida. FAU’s world-class teaching and research faculty serves students through 10 colleges: the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, the College of Business, the College for Design and Social Inquiry, the College of Education, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, the Graduate College, the Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. FAU is ranked as a High Research Activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University is placing special focus on the rapid development of critical areas that form the basis of its strategic plan: Healthy aging, biotech, coastal and marine issues, neuroscience, regenerative medicine, informatics, lifespan and the environment. These areas provide opportunities for faculty and students to build upon FAU’s existing strengths in research and scholarship. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

About Comcast Business:

Comcast Business offers Ethernet, Internet, Wi-Fi, Voice, TV and Managed Enterprise Solutions to help organizations of all sizes transform their business. Powered by an advanced network, and backed by 24/7 technical support, Comcast Business is one of the largest contributors to the growth of Comcast Cable. Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and has emerged as a force in the Enterprise market; recognized over the last two years by leading industry associations as one of the fastest growing provider of Ethernet services.

For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social.

About Comcast Cable:

Comcast Cable is one of the nation's largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand and also provides these services to businesses. Comcast has invested in technology to build an advanced network that delivers among the fastest broadband speeds, and brings customers personalized video, communications and home management offerings. Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.

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