Gig.U Seeks to Gather Private Sector Ideas for Next Generation Networks
Gig.U: The University Community Next Generation Innovation Project, will issue a request for information (RFI) in the next 45 days to identify companies interested in providing next-generation networks and services, it said in an open letter Thursday. The idea is for Gig.U member research universities to become potential “testbeds” and customers of the most innovative ultra high speed network technologies. The initiative may attract interest from incumbent local exchange carriers like Windstream and CenturyLink, company officials told us.
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The initiative has received inquiries from many companies since its launch, said Gig.U Executive Director Blair Levin in an interview. There’s consensus that university communities are the places to start an initiative like this, he said. Levin expects the partnership to generate new ultra high speed network technology and business models as well as new services and applications, he said. There will be an open and competitive process to choose Gig.U partners, he said. In light of historical regulatory auction process, the most important thing is to create a competitive process that wouldn’t force outcomes, enabling the best ideas and best business models, he said.
CenturyLink has received Gig.U’s open letter and is very interested, said Jeff Water, vice president of sales and education services. The company has been talking to universities for a while about how to assist them with similar projects prior to the creation of Gig.U, he said, adding that Arizona State University, a Gig.U member, is already a CenturyLink customer. The company hasn’t seen the RFI so Waters didn’t specify what ideas and technologies CenturyLink is looking at for potential presentation. But he noted CenturyLink is a big proponent of fiber-based facilities.
Windstream is pleased to hear that Gig.U “plans to take concrete, near-term steps to seek out novel solutions to deploying broadband to university communities,” a spokesman said.
The initiative is looking for strategies from incumbent service providers, new entrants and other private sector entities, the open letter said. Companies can propose strategies or submit ideas for one or more university locations, the open letter said. Gig.U members either individually or jointly may choose to engage in in-depth negotiations with participating companies at the conclusion of the RFI process. Some universities and communities will place a high value on the inclusion of economically disadvantaged and under-represented portions of their communities in the scope of their deployment. Gig.U will host a workshop in Chicago Sept. 26 for interested entities.