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Department of Technology Connecting to 100 Gbps Education and Research Network

As a result, the state's private cloud, vendor-hosted solutions and other IT service offerings are now available to thousands of potential new customers across California in education, K-12, colleges and universities, and libraries.

The California Department of Technology's private cloud, vendor-hosted solutions and other IT service offerings are now available to thousands of potential new customers in a broadband agreement announced Thursday.

The expansion is made possible because the department said it's connecting to the Corporation for Education Networking in California's (CENIC) 100 Gbps research and education network, thereby opening the state of California's IT services to 10,000 CENIC member institutions.

The Department of Technology's connection to CENIC's network, called the California Research Network (CalREN), was made possible by a fiber sharing agreement the department forged with the city of Sacramento last spring. The CalREN connection will allow K-12, community colleges, universities and libraries to subscribe to the Department of Technology's services.

The Department of Technology has been pursuing educational institutions and local governments as new customers that would help the state scale up its private cloud and other hosted services. The California Department of Technology also became an E-rate provider in March 2016.

"This agreement plays a significant role in improving the delivery, efficiency and security of government services in the state of California,” said Chris Cruz, the Department of Technology's chief deputy director of operations, in a statement Thursday. “Now we can extend these services to CENIC’s research and education community thanks to Sacramento’s willingness to collaborate on solutions across government entities.”

The agreement also will enable Sacramento to participate in data-sharing initiatives with other cities, research institutions and entities connecting to CENIC.

“This is a tremendous success story and a great example of leveraging a city asset that is not being fully utilized, in return for a significant benefit to both the city and the state. This is government at its best,” said Maria MacGunigal, CIO for the city of Sacramento. “The opportunity to participate in statewide open data initiatives with other cities will allow us to share our best practices and benefit from those of other cities across the state.”

Los Angeles also is connecting to the 100 Gbps education network, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced in May.

CENIC anchor institutions include the University of California, California’s K-12 system, California Community Colleges, the California State University and California’s public libraries.

Matt Williams was Managing Editor of Techwire from June 2014 through May 2017.