BITS Pilani campus gets fully wired

The Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, announced yesterday that BITSConnect, India's largest campus backbone network, had been commissioned to full capacity.

BITSConnect is one of the most ambitious projects undertaken by an university in India. It was led jointly by BITS and the BITS Alumni Association (BITSAA) and is the culmination of a year-long effort.

The project spanned continents and organisations as BITS alumni, faculty and students came together to help create the networking infrastructure for the BITS, Pilani, campus.

BITSConnect will provide broadband access, IP telephony, streaming media and video conferencing facilities in student's rooms, hostels, staff quarters and the guest house, as well as wireless access in select areas of the campus.

"BITSConnect will enable global connectivity to the students on the campus through 24/7 Internet access and IP telephony, right from their rooms, libraries, lawns or any point on campus; increasing their productivity manifold," said Gunender Kapur, Executive Director, Hindustan Lever Limited (HLL) and a BITS alumni.

"Having the nation's largest and most efficient backbone infrastructure will enhance BITS' Distance Learning Programme Division (DLPD), to offer media rich content to over 7,500 students," Dr S Venkateswaran, vice-chancellor, BITS, Pilani, said.

"Our DLPD is the best in the country and now we can expand the virtual university concept allowing students, faculty, research and organisations to collaborate with no geographical constraints," he added.