About LEARN: Activities & Accomplishments

Expanding Access

LEARN's network is an important strategic asset that enables Texans the opportunity to serve, collaborate, innovate, and compete throughout the world. LEARN, in partnership with the public and private sectors, has deployed high performance network services on 3,000 miles of fiber in Texas. Network points of presence have been established in many locations throughout the network that serve as customer access points to our network enabled services. To enhance the value of the network, LEARN connects to other networks in Texas, regionally, nationally and internationally. This network of networks allows us to leverage existing investments and broaden the utility and value of the network services that are available to the LEARN community.

This year in collaboration with the University of North Texas (UNT), LEARN completed its optical deployment to connect Denton to our statewide network. This would not have been possible without the generous support of UNT, which will be hosting a LEARN point of presence on their campus. Additionally, in partnership with the Texas Tech University System and private sector partners, LEARN deployed an optical metro system in Lubbock and a LEARN point of presence on the campus of Texas Tech University (TTU). This project would not have occurred without the financial support of TTU and their willingness to host a point of presence on their campus for LEARN and its customers.

During the past year, in collaboration with Texas A&M University and the University of Houston, LEARN deployed a connection between Corpus Christi and San Antonio to provide a back up path to protect critical services serving Victoria and Corpus Christi. This mitigates the impact of service disruptions on the Houston to Corpus Christi path of the network that result from a fiber cut, equipment failure or a storm.

LEARN also began deploying DWDM metro systems in Dallas, San Antonio and Houston to connect, establish, and protect strategic points of presence for our customers. These metro systems will enable us to leverage these investments for many years to meet the long term demands of our customers. These systems were an important part of new partnerships, which have been established with Internet2, other regional optical networks in the southwest, and international research and education networks in Mexico and Central America.