Deploying and Managing the Network Infrastructure
VERNet's goal is to procure and deploy up to 2000 km of optical fibre across Victoria. The optical fibre will link almost 120 research and tertiary education sites across metropolitan and regional Victoria. The network will connect these sites to each other and also to national and international broadband networks. The Victorian Education and Research Network (VERN) will help the Victorian universities and the CSIRO deliver better research and education. It will also help our shareholders and customers meet the exponentially growing demands of educators and researchers for very high bandwidth over the next two decades.
Our second goal is to wisely manage the portfolio of infrastructure assets - with an initial capital value of over $30 million - over VERN's 20-year life. VERN is a long-term investment in reliable and resilient infrastructure. The infrastructure rollout began in 2005 and should be completed in 2008.
The Purpose of VERNet
VERNet Pty Ltd was established to design and develop the VERN network. The company is responsible for negotiating the procurement of the network’s fibre, equipment and services, and then managing the portfolio of infrastructure assets. Our people have experience in optic fibre infrastructure, telecommunications, investment evaluation, project management and procurement. They have experience in the public and private sectors. VERNet’s shareholders are the nine Victorian universities and the CSIRO.
VERN is a collaborative investment by these universities, the CSIRO and the Commonwealth Government. VERN’s primary customers are the IT executives and staff at those institutions who are responsible for supplying network services to educators, researchers and students.
Demonstrating our Value
VERNet's business is to provide the underlying network infrastructure that will enable educators, researchers and students to exchange ideas and communicate faster.
We will provide the optical networks over which they can collaborate more effectively in international research and deliver better science and know how for all Australians. VERNet will also provide infrastructure in parts of Victoria where it may otherwise be too costly.
Therefore, VERNet will demonstrate value for our shareholders and customers by delivering them cost-effective, fast and reliable network infrastructure. We will help them to increase their capacity of their networks, expand their reach and lower their costs of access. We will create a trusted environment in which our shareholders can pool their investment and see those funds leveraged through partnerships with government and the private sector.
In doing so VERNet will lower the investment cost to individual institutions. Over the life of VERN’s assets, we will bring our shareholders and customers access to network infrastructure significantly less costly than if they had invested alone. As a bi-product, this investment will facilitate other new network infrastructure for many Victorians. In this way, VERN is an important participant in a world trend to stimulate ubiquitous public access to advanced networks through public investment.
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