Cogent Selected by C-SPAN for Fast, Reliable Transport of Distance Learning Video and Data Transmissions
Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (AMEX: COI), a Tier One, optical Internet service provider, announced C-SPAN has selected Cogent to provide a point-to-point, high bandwidth connection that is enabling an innovative, two-way, distance learning program for students at the University of Denver.
Over Cogent’s 100 Mbps dedicated transport connection, C-SPAN’s distance learning program is taught by Dr. John Splaine, an award-winning professor who has taught at the University of Maryland’s School of Education for 32 years. Dr. Splaine develops and teaches accredited courses to DU students based at the Distance Learning Studio of The Cable Center, which is adjacent to the DU campus. By conducting the course from Washington, D.C., Dr. Splaine is able to invite elected officials, national journalists and policy experts as speakers. He has access to C-SPAN’s on-location field cameras, as they cover unfolding events, and to C-SPAN’s archives containing thousands of hours of political programming.
Cogent was selected for its cost-effectiveness, its reliability and quality of service. “Cogent’s dedicated bandwidth and ring architecture provided C-SPAN with a level of comfort that no other ISP could match. Knowing that the bandwidth would be there all the time and that the transmission could not be interrupted – even if there was a fiber cut – was a big factor in selecting Cogent to provide the point-to-point connection,” said Barry Katz, C-SPAN’s Video Assets Manager.
Cogent’s all optical network is layer 3 protected and built in a series of physical rings both on the longhaul backbone and in the metro areas. These two aspects combine to allow the routers to detect if there is a fiber cut, then redirect data around the ring in the other direction, restoring the data transmission in less than a second.
“C-SPAN is an excellent example of how Cogent’s unique architecture and unlimited bandwidth enable customers to push the envelope on new bandwidth applications,” said Dave Schaeffer, CEO Cogent Communications. “It is my prediction that distance learning will rapidly catch on at educational institutions across America once bandwidth and connectivity constraints are lifted. Through C-SPAN, students at DU now have the wonderful opportunity to be exposed to a higher quality and a more diverse range of experts than previously imagined and Cogent is glad to be a part of making this happen.”
The first semester was successfully completed May 30th, 2002 and will resume in the fall. The semester ran without any complications or connectivity issues. Cogent’s uninterrupted transmission also allowed cost-effective video and data communications between Dr. Splaine and his students outside of regular class hours.
About C-SPAN
C-SPAN, the political network of record, was created in 1979 by America’s cable companies as a public service. Based in Washington, D.C., C-SPAN – the Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network — now offers three television networks, a nationally available satellite radio station and six web sites. C-SPAN is currently available in 86 million households, C-SPAN2 in 70 million households, and C-SPAN3 in 6 million households nationwide. For more information about C-SPAN, visit its Web site at C-SPAN.org.
About Cogent Communications
Cogent Communications (AMEX: COI) is a next generation optical ISP focused on delivering ultra-high speed Internet access and transport services to businesses in the multi-tenant marketplace and to service providers located in major metropolitan areas across the United States. Cogent’s signature service offered to commercial end-users of 100 Mbps for $1,000 per month, offers 100 times the observed bandwidth of a T-1 connection at approximately two-thirds of the cost. The Cogent solution makes ultra-high speed Internet access an affordable reality for small and medium-sized businesses, as well as large enterprises and service providers. Cogent’s facilities-based, all-optical end-to-end IP network enables non-oversubscribed 100 Mbps and 1000 Mbps connectivity for radically low, unmetered pricing levels.
Cogent’s network consists of a dedicated nationwide multiple OC-192 fiber backbone, multiple intra-city OC-48 fiber rings, and optically-interfaced high-speed routers. Cogent has been recognized as the first IP+Optical Cisco Powered Network (CPN). Cogent acquired the U.S. operations of PSINet and is now servicing 33 metropolitan markets with services ranging from T1 and T3, to 100 Mbps and 1,000 Mbps Internet connectivity and transport services. Cogent Communications is headquartered at 1015 31st Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007. For more information, visit http://www.cogentco.com/. Cogent Communications can be reached at (202) 295-4200 or via email at info@cogentco.com.
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This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, successful completion or expansion of the network, our connection to the Internet requires us to obtain and maintain relationships with other providers, our rights to the use of the dark fiber that make up our network may be affected by the financial health of our fiber providers, we often are limited in choices for metropolitan fiber suppliers and we will need to obtain or construct additional building laterals to connect buildings to our network. Additional general factors include competition, changes in technology and methods of marketing, and various other factors beyond the Company’s control.
