Wayne State is about to open the electronic information floodgates.

The university has signed a $7.3 million contract with Lucent Technologies to build a fiber-optic "backbone" network that will interconnect buildings on the university's main and medical campuses. This network will serve as the foundation for bringing advanced communications to all classrooms, laboratories, and offices at WSU.

"We are very pleased to sign this agreement with Lucent Technologies," said WSU President Irvin Reid. "Information technology will play an increasingly important and visible role at Wayne State.

"We know how capable networks help individuals share information and resources, and promote collaboration. Advanced communications offer a strategic advantage for students and faculty."


"Our goal is to build one of the most advanced networks in higher education right here at Wayne State."

Lucent Technologies provides the hardware and software that run the many of the world's global communications networks, and includes the renowned research and development organization, Bell Labs.

When WSU's fiber-optic network is completed, it will:
* interconnect about 70 university-owned buildings;
* construct private underground conduit in areas where WSU owns the property;
* use leased conduit where WSU has to cross public streets or freeways;
* have custom-built fiber-optic cable installed in all conduit; and
* use conventional copper circuits to locations too far away to construct or lease conduit.

Once the fiber is in place, WSU will implement a high-speed Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) data network using switching and routing equipment from Lucent. Due to its high speed and its ability to integrate data, video, and voice traffic, ATM will enable the creation and expansion of new applications - such as multimedia -when Ethernet networks in buildings are upgraded in the future.

Over the past 15 years, Wayne State has invested substantially in its urban campus. Reid believes that building an advanced network for students and faculty is in keeping with his vision for a nationally prominent university.

Reid also believes that when students and employees have access to a fully networked campus, students will be better able t communicate with their instructors and share information with administrative departments. "When all faculty have access to such a network from offices and classrooms, they will be better able to take advantage of modern instructional technologies that enable instruction to be varied according to the needs of individual students," he said.


"The research challenges of the coming decade require a reliable high performance network so that WSU scholars and scientists remain competitive."