🚀 go-pugleaf

Below is a press release issued on Thurs. An article ran in Saturday's
Vancouver Sun giving more details.

BCnet's core backbone will move to 155Mbps (full mesh) in 1q97, with
increased bandwidth to the US via BCTelAC in roughly the same time frame.

BCnet, with BCTelAC, will also form the first Western Canada NAP (Network
Access Point) for various carriers. The NAP will be located at the BCnet
hub in SFU Harbour Centre.

For more information on BCnet:

Phone: 604-822-1348 or 1-800-255-8588, option 1
Fax: 604-291-5022
Email: info@bc.net
Web: http://www.bc.net

Michael Hrybyk
General Manager, BCnet

=========================

November 28, 1996


BCNET AND BC TEL ADVANCED COMMUNICATIONS TEAM UP 
TO CREATE FASTEST INFORMATION PIPELINE IN CANADA

Vancouver, B.C.  o  BCnet and BC TEL Advanced Communications have 
partnered to develop a new high-speed network that will transmit 
information between the three largest universities in British Columbia 
at 155 megabits per second  o  the fastest speed available in Canada.

BC TEL Advanced Communications is spending about $3 million to upgrade 
the communication pipelines between the University of British Columbia, 
the University of Victoria and the Burnaby and Vancouver campuses of 
Simon Fraser University.  The 
BC TELECOM division will use the latest digital and asynchronous 
transfer mode (ATM) technology to deliver data and visual images over 
fibre-optic lines at a lightning-fast speed.

BCnet operates the main computer conduit between universities and other 
post-secondary institutions in British Columbia to research and 
educational networks throughout the country and the world-wide Internet. 
 Starting late March 1997, the non-profit society will help members from 
the three universities use the new high-speed network to enhance their 
teaching and research.

For example,  an engineering professor at the University of Victoria 
will be able to show plans and discuss research findings with her 
counterpart at Simon Fraser University in a full-motion video conference 
from her desktop computer.  Another professor at the University of 
British Columbia will be able to teach a law course from his office in 
Vancouver to students at the University of Victoria.

"This is great news for post-secondary educators and students alike," 
said Jack Leigh, president of BCnet.  "This new alliance will improve 
Internet access and distance learning opportunities, as well as help our 
universities remain technological leaders."

"Our partnership with BCnet will be a valuable learning experience," 
said Jim Grey, vice-president and general manager of BC TEL Advanced 
Communications.  "We will use the insight gained from our work with 
BCnet to launch a 155-megabit-per-second commercial service elsewhere in 
the province in late 1997.  In the future, hospitals, research 
organizations, schools and colleges are just some of the groups that 
will be able to benefit from this extremely fast network."

BC TEL Advanced Communications is also increasing the connection speed 
to the Internetis global backbone network from 45 to 200 megabits per 
second  o  also the fastest in Canada.  The increased speed will provide 
more bandwidth capacity for Internet service providers, resulting in 
fewer delays for most Internet users in the province.

In addition, BCnet and BC TEL Advanced Communications will jointly 
develop Western Canadais first Network Access Point (NAP) at Simon 
Fraser Universityis Harbour Centre campus in downtown Vancouver.  

"This Internet exchange centre will ensure most Internet traffic 
originating and terminating in British Columbia will stay in our 
province and Canadian-bound traffic will stay in Canada," Grey noted.  
"For example, today when I send an e-mail message through my Internet 
service provider in Burnaby to a friend who uses another Internet 
company in Vancouver, my message may be routed through the United 
States.  As early as January 1997, that will no longer be the case.  As 
a result, Internet connections should be faster and more reliable."

"Weire very excited about these developments," Leigh added.  "Thanks to 
these three initiatives, British Columbia will soon have the fastest, 
most sophisticated and dependable network in the country, and possibly 
North America."

BC TEL Advanced Communications provides high-speed data and network 
services, such as broadcast-quality video conferencing, fully managed 
wide area networks and Internet access.

Founded in 1986 by the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser 
University and the University of Victoria, BCnet created the first 
Internet network in Canada and now serves more than 100 organizations in 
British Columbia, including most universities, colleges and institutes.


For more information, please contact:

Michelle Gagn 
Media relations manager
BC TEL
1-604-432-2949 (office)
1-604-977-5875 (toll-free pager)
michelle_gagne@bctel.com (e-mail address)

Jack Leigh
President
BCnet
1-604-822-3931 (office)
Jack.Leigh@ubc.ca (e-mail address)