Howard Community College Future-Proofs LAN with Fiber

Howard Community College (HCC) in Columbia, MD has completed deployment of a passive optical LAN (POL) solution in its new Health Sciences building.

The college plans for "aggressive growth over the next decade" and wanted to implement network technology that could easily scale for that future growth while saving the college time and money now, according to Tom Glaser, vice president of information technology at HCC.

The college selected Motorola's POL solution, which was deployed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), an IT infrastructure solution provider and integrator. The solution provides the college with all-fiber IP network connectivity to more than 1,500 Ethernet ports. It offers "converged voice, data, and video at gigabit speeds to any Ethernet endpoint" such as end-user devices, wireless access points, wireless controllers, applications servers, and printers, according to the company. The company also claims the solution delivers combined total cost of ownership (TCO) savings of up to 65 percent over traditional LAN architectures and that it is "ideal for educational institutions, new buildings, or buildings undergoing major renovations."

"We were impressed by the solution's significant cost savings and operational benefits, as well as the hassle-free maintenance," said Glaser in a prepared statement. "We expect Motorola's POL to keep Howard Community College on the cutting edge for years to come as our students continue to require better and more widespread network access."

Howard Community College is a publicly funded two-year community college serving more than 13,000 credit students in Howard County, MD.

Further information about Motorola's passive optical LAN (POL) solution can be found at motorola.com/pol.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

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