The Corporation for Education Network Initiatives in California (CENIC) announced today that the University of San Diego has become the latest university to connect at Gigabit speeds to its high-performance California Research & Education Network (CalREN). University officials are delighted at the significant cost savings and greatly improved research, instruction, and collaboration abilities that accompany the institution’s new broadband connectivity to CalREN. CalREN began operation in 1998 and has grown into a state-spanning fiber-optic network serving nearly all of California’s research and educational institutions, including California’s Community College system, the California K-12 system, the California State University’s 23 campuses, and the University of California’s 10 campuses. Also served by CalREN are many of the state’s private universities such as Stanford, USC, the California Institute of Technology, and the Naval Postgraduate School as well as major research institutions including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and NASA’s Ames Research Center. All of the over 140 sites that connect to CalREN have access to the cutting edge of high-performance Internet networking, and CalREN’s connections to international research and education networks permit collaboration and instruction on a global scale. The University of San Diego now enjoys all of these benefits after connecting to the CalREN optical backbone via AT&T OPT-E-MAN. AT&T Opt-E-Man is a switched Ethernet service that connects LANs within the same metropolitan area. The service is currently available in Bakersfield, Fresno, Los Angeles, Modesto/Stockton/Merced, Redding, San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obispo, Sacramento and other markets served by AT&T. Chartered in 1949 and with a present enrollment of over 7,500 students, the University of San Diego is known for its commitment to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community, and preparing leaders dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service. The university offers more than 60 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. “The fundamental reason USD joined CENIC is to significantly reduce the costs of our annual commodity/commercial Internet service to the University,” stated Chris Wessells, USD's Vice Provost and Chief Information Officer. “Through CENIC, USD will have the capacity to quickly augment Internet capacity. In addition, it provides a means to connect USD faculty and students to high-capacity research networks like Internet2, National LambdaRail (NLR), and the Global Integrated Lambda Facility (GLIF) and thus connect our campus community to other schools and colleges throughout California and the world.” “There are many private universities in California who can benefit tremendously from the advantages in instruction, research, and collaboration that CalREN offers,” said Jim Dolgonas, President and CEO of CENIC. “Membership in CalREN is the ideal choice for such institutions, both for technological and economic reasons.”