Virginia Tech selects AboveNet to connect research facilities, data centers via fiber

SEPTEMBER 28, 2010 -- AboveNet Inc. (NYSE: ABVT) says it will connect Virginia Tech data centers and research locations, including a new research institute in Arlington.

AboveNet said it was selected because of its understanding of Virginia Tech's research and business requirements and its expertise in delivering services designed to move large amounts of mission-critical data over a secure, high-bandwidth network.

AboveNet designed and built a fiber-optic ring to help Virginia Tech meet the requirements for high-end computational research. One node on the ring is Virginia Tech's National Capital Region Aggregation Facility, which is a nexus for national and international research networks including National LambdaRail, Internet2, Mid-Atlantic Crossroads, and several federal networks. Connecting these strategic resources with fiber will effectively put Virginia Tech's new research institute "on-net" at the core of scientific and engineering research, AboveNet says.

"Our new research institute will further the university's mission to expand our research portfolio in a region that offers great opportunity for partnerships with corporate research entities and is in close proximity to government agencies," said Dr. James Bohland, vice president and executive director, Virginia Tech operations in the National Capital Region. "Our ability to connect multiple research locations and partners is key to establishing a major presence in this area."

Virginia Tech's new research institute provides a platform for the university's engineering and computational science researchers to interact with counterparts in academia, government, and industry around the National Capital Region, and also serves as a link to the research and development base at the main campus in Blacksburg.

The AboveNet network will provide fiber-optic connectivity between the Virginia Tech research facility in Arlington and key data centers and campus sites in Northern Virginia. Once connected, the 90-mile fiber ring can be used to meet university needs and serve as a gateway to the other research networks and institutions with a presence in the Northern Virginia area.

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