14 August 2002 -- Level 3 Communications Inc has a two-year contract to provide UKERNA (UK Education and Research Networking Association) with high-speed Internet access. Its (3)CrossRoads technology will provide connectivity to its US and Europe IP network via two 2.5Gbit/s ports from two diverse locations in London.
UKERNA operates a range of network services for the further education, higher education, and research communities in the UK, connected via the JANET backbone (the UK's education and research network). JANET in turn is connected to similar education and research networks across the world.
Level 3 already provides network services - directly or indirectly through consortiums - to a number of other research and academic institutions including Harvard University, Corporation for Education Network Initiative in California (CENIC), the University of Washington, MCNC, National Center for Atmospheric Research, The Quilt, UCAID, BELNET, and SURFnet.
"We were determined to find high quality services and financially stable partners that would provide a robust, fully redundant and reliable connection for our global Internet service," says UKERNA chief executive Robin Arak. "Our network is a vital resource for educational institutions and the research community in the UK, enabling them to communicate globally," he adds.