Computer News No. 123  Sep.-Oct. 2006

Links to Remote Premises Upgraded to Use Metro-Ethernet Services

In the past years, ATM framelink technology, which was cost effective, had been in use for network connections between HKU main campus and several remote sites.  However, the maximum connection speed of an individual site is limited to 1.5Mbps, which is not sufficient for some sites as the bandwidth utilization keeps increasing during the years.  Besides, the technology is not as cost effective now as newer WAN technologies emerge.  From September 2006, Metro-Ethernet  Service provided by PCCW is employed to replace the old ATM framelink connections for the following remote sites:

  • Hing Wai Centre (Estates Office and Library Unit) - 4Mbps connection
  • Admiralty Centre (School of Business) - 4Mbps connection
  • Family Medicine Unit (Department of Medicine - Apleichau Clinic in Aberdeen, Hong Kong) - 1Mbps connection
  • Tsan Yuk Hospital (Department of Social Work and Social Administration) - 1Mbps connection

Metro-Ethernet  Service is based on mature Ethernet technology, such that it is more cost effective than the old ATM-framelink technology in terms of networking equipment cost and monthly rental cost.  Moreover, the connection speed of an individual site can be greater than the old limitation of 1.5Mbps.  The new network set up for remote premises is more suitable to satisfy the requirements and to cater for future growth.