More than 50,000 students, faculty and staff across the University of Tennessee System will now have increased access to educational resources and applications over the Internet.
The University of Tennessee System announced it will be linking to and utilizing NetTN, a custom-built Virtual Private Network solution that AT&T has built for the State of Tennessee as part of a ten-year networking agreement announced early last year.
The University of Tennessee System will use NetTN to connect campuses at Knoxville, Chattanooga and Martin, the Health Science Center at Memphis and the Space Institute at Tullahoma.
“From increasing capacity for research and scholarly achievement to providing enhanced access to undergraduate and graduate education, AT&T’s networking solution is enabling the University to accelerate delivery of our strategic initiatives including educational outreach and preparedness for the global marketplace,” said Scott Studham, CIO, the University of Tennessee System.
Since 2008, the State of Tennessee and AT&T have been building NetTN, which delivers an extensive upgrade to the core of the state’s Internet Protocol – based network. Under the agreement, AT&T will double the bandwidth for Internet Connectivity throughout the University of Tennessee System allowing students and faculty access to more applications at the same time including Bannerweb, an online tool that allows students to register for classes in real time.
"As the former chairman of the Senate Education Committee in the Tennessee State Senate, I am thrilled to see the University of Tennessee System and AT&T collaborating to create enhanced learning opportunities for those enrolled in the state’s colleges and universities," said Jamie Woodson, speaker pro tempore for the Tennessee State Senate.
"Investment in technology for higher education is essential for improved student education and achievement, and one of my goals is to help make certain that Tennessee remains a place that provides students with a world-class education."