University ramps up network bandwidth for e-learning

City University in London has upgraded its data network to support high bandwidth e-learning technologies such as video podcasts of lectures.

The university selected ntl:Telewest Business to replace its WAN with a high speed metro Ethernet VPN network, which connects its main building and central campus at Northampton Square in Clerkenwell to 10 remote sites, including Cass Business School, City Community and Health Sciences and The City Law School.

The network will be used by some 15,000 students and 2,500 staff - and enables applications at the central campus to be accessed from remote sites.

The bandwidth upgrade is part of a five-year strategy by the university to develop its information services and ramp up e-learning opportunities for students.

Technologies being deployed across the network include course management system WebCT (Course Tools), and CitySpace, a virtual learning environment which gives students access to online course materials, resources, interactive activities, and assessment and comms tools.

Lectures, live events and additional video and audio learning content can also be streamed over the network.

Carl Stokes, director of IT operations and infrastructure at City University said the university has seen a 35 per cent increase in the use of e-learning technologies over the last year.

He said in a statement: "In order to support this service and deploy further innovative technologies to enhance the way our students learn, we required sufficient resilient bandwidth over which to run applications."