Trustees Approve Plans for Internet Switching Center at Cal State Hayward
Construction
of an Internet switching center could begin in the fall on
the California State University, Hayward campus following a
unanimous vote of approval by the California State
University Board of Trustees.
The
11-0 vote on Jan. 24 clears the way for a 20-year contract
to be developed
between the California State University system, Cal
State Hayward
and Geographic Network Affiliates International for a
“carrier hotel”
project on campus. The first phase of construction begins
this fall.
The
initial phase calls for development of a
180,000-square-foot structure
to house network equipment and servers belonging to
several telecommunications
carrier companies. Multiple carrier companies lease
space
within the same carrier hotel so they can easily
interconnect networks.
A second phase would add a 200,000-square-foot building
on which
construction could begin by the end of this year.
Examples
of telecommunications carrier companies are Sprint, Cable
and Wireless,
AT&T, Pacific Bell and MCI.
The
center would be located on six acres at the south end of the
campus on
undeveloped land in a valley near the university’s Pioneer
Heights residence
hall.
Under
the plan approved by the trustees, GEO would build the
two buildings
and lease them from Cal State Hayward for a minimum
rental rate
or 25 percent of the net, whichever is greater. When the
project is
complete, the university could earn revenues ranging from $1
million to
$2 million a year. These funds could be used for academic
programs and
support of projects such as a Business and Technology
Center, expected
to open in 2004.
“Cal
State Hayward already has established itself as one of the
premiere institutions
when it comes to educational technologies,” said
university President
Norma S. Rees. “This center will continue our leadership
in this
field by serving as a magnet for international
telecommunications services
companies.”
“This
is a project with enormous academic benefits,” Rees added.
“It will
create a steady stream of new opportunities for academic
programs, research
and business partnerships. For example, by locating
an Internet
switching center on campus our faculty, students and staff
will have
direct fiber optic connectivity to Internet 2, the next
generation of
the Internet.”
The
project had been given conceptual approval by the CSU
trustees last November,
but Wednesday’s action cleared the way for
contractual arrangements,
according to John Charles, CSUH director of
information technology.
“We’re
on an aggressive timeline, but we think construction on
Phase One could
begin this fall,” Charles said.
About
15,000 square feet of the project will support Internet
operations by
Cal State Hayward, other universities, and K-12
schools.
Further
information about the partnership project is available
at: www.csuhayward.edu/ics/csuh-geo.htm
