A high-speed research network is now available in Memphis, thanks to The Memphis Coalition for Advanced Networking.
MCAN, a nonprofit group consisting of The University of Memphis, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, formed four years ago to pool resources and bring the computing network to the community.
President and Executive Director of MCAN Russell Ingram said the state-of-the-art, optical broadband communications could enhance opportunities for local researchers, while opening educational doors in the community.
"It is a resource, a tool for researchers," he said. "It will allow collaboration between Memphis research communities and top research firms in thenation."
Faculty members in all departments at The U of M will have access to the high speed network, said Doug Hurley, vice president for information technology and chief information officer at The U of M.
"It will be particularly great for recruiting faculty, especially for faculty who use computing technology in their teachings," he said. "Virtually every professor uses technology in their teachings."
The optical network, which is faster than electronic or digital, could allow a chemist at The U of M to send data anotherresearcher at ultra-fast speeds, Hurley said.
"They'll have instantaneous kinds of speeds," he said. "A professor could also use it to connect a colleague to their classroom for a teaching session."
Hurley said having access to the network could enhance The University's reputation as a research school, increasing research graduate enrollment.
"We certainly hope that attracting great professors and students who are engaged inresearch is a spinoff of the project," he said.
Access to the network, Hurley said, will be restricted to educational uses only and protected by special login codes.
"The network is not for commercial internet purposes," he said. "If you're going to download Netflix movies, you won'tbe able to use it for that."
Brandon Wellford, a director of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation, said boostingMemphis' economy was also on the agenda while planning the network launch.
"Our interest is to use this to drive economic development into the community," he said. "Companies will want to have access to that kind of technology."
In the past, Memphis has been left out of major internet network research, when compared with other cities' involvements,Wellford said.
"There was a huge gap," he said. "Our interest and desire was to put Memphis on the map and have us connected to majorresearch networks."
