TII Project work on new network approaching completion

By Sydney Jackson
Over the past year and a half, the TII Project has installed a new telecommunications infrastructure underground around the campus and also has installed new voice and data wiring in most of the buildings.

The infrastructure is now completed, except for a handful on connections to buildings, which will be completed within the next few weeks.

The construction work in many of the buildings is now completed or approaching completion.  The new wiring, however, will not be used until Phase II of the project.

Construction work concludes with an inspection and approval process to ensure that the work has been completed according to the contract. 

The exterior construction of the three communications buildings (MDF-A, MDF-B and MDF-C) is complete, and the interiors are being finished to house the new network electronic equipment (included in Phase II). 

Information Technology Services (ITS) is working closely with the consulting services of SBC/AT&T on a network design that includes enhanced voice, video and data services.  A Baseline Plan for the network design has been approved by the California State University Chancellor, and a Baseline Plus Plan has been submitted to the Chancellor for review. The network design is about 30 percent complete.

Beginning this summer, SBC will install the electronic equipment in the buildings and the buildings will be cut over to the new data wiring.

This will be done in stages.  Building cutovers to the new network are expected to begin in late fall, and completion is expected in late spring 2007.  A schedule showing the order and approximate date of the building cutovers will be published when available.

ITS and Facilities Planning will do everything possible to make this transition a smooth one.

The cutover to the new voice wiring is still being researched and may not be simultaneous with the cutover to the new data wiring.

This is a $21-million project funded through Proposition 47 and the CSU Chancellor’s Office.  TII will increase the speed of our data networks and provide a foundation for increased speed and reliability for voice, video and data campuswide. 

For more information call 278.7167.

(Sydney Jackson is communications coordinator for IT Services and Facilities Management.)