Verizon Business to Enhance New Zealand’s International Research and Development Capabilities

New High-Speed, Private Network Facilitates Global Collaboration for Universities, Institutes and Libraries Participating in Government Initiative

September 5, 2006 - BASKING RIDGE, N.J. – University and library researchers in New Zealand will soon be able to collaborate to more effectively with their counterparts in the rest of the world. Under a three-year agreement with Research Education Advanced Network New Zealand (REANNZ), a New Zealand government-sponsored initiative, Verizon Business will fully manage a high-speed, global network service connecting REANNZ users with their colleagues who use similar research and education networks in North America, Asia, Europe and Australia. Participants in New Zealand include universities, Crown research institutes and the National Library.

The advanced network will directly link Auckland with Sydney and Seattle, providing the dedicated bandwidth needed to share large data files, including still and moving graphics. Verizon Business will monitor the private network round-the-clock to prevent downtime and promote availability.

Dr. Jim Watson, chairman of REANNZ, said that until now, New Zealand has been restricted by the technical performance of regular Internet services. “This has limited the participation of New Zealand organizations in research, development and education activities,” he said. “For New Zealand to truly compete internationally in R&D, this network is essential.”

Charles Jarvie, head of development for REANNZ, said the network adds important capabilities. “Until now, much of collaboration in research and education with overseas parties has been done using regular Internet services such as e-mail and low-level, file-transfer processes,” he said.

“Having a dedicated high-performance network to support network-based collaboration techniques will enable New Zealand researchers to build on opportunities with their international peers. The government has taken a valuable step in funding a major project that provides international connectivity to help further research.”

The Building Research Capability in the Social Sciences (BRCSS), which aims to network researchers in the social sciences field and mentor and develop the next generation of researchers, is one area of established collaboration that will benefit from the network being built by REANNZ. Professor David Thorns from the University of Canterbury, a leading researcher in the social sciences who has been eagerly awaiting the project, said he has been frustrated by New Zealand’s existing networking arrangements. “The international connectivity that Verizon Business is providing will help us immensely,” he said. “It will allow us to construct research documents collaboratively and share sound, still and moving images and data files, of all sizes, across the globe.”

Glenn Watkins, Verizon Business’ New Zealand country manager, said, “To have the New Zealand Government instill its trust in Verizon Business for this key initiative speaks volumes for our local and global experience, knowledge, capability and networks. We’re delighted to be able to support REANNZ as it enhances New Zealand’s ability to participate with the international research community.”

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ), is a leading provider of advanced communications and information technology (IT) solutions to large business and government customers worldwide. Combining unsurpassed global network reach with advanced technology and professional service capabilities, Verizon Business delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world. For more information, visit www.verizonbusiness.com

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