Three education institutions, São Paulo University (USP), São Paulo State University Júlio Mesquita Filho (Unesp) and the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp) will benefit from the arrival of the new fibre optic network in the city of São Paulo, the new MetroSampa. The project, which is part of the Research and Education Community Networks (Redes Comunitárias de Ensino e Pesquisa - Redecomep), coordinated by RNP, is the first agreement of this nature signed in the state of São Paulo.

The instrument, signed on 12/5 with the company Mega Telecom Comunicações, has a five-year term and will guarantee about 85 km of optical fibre twisted-pair in the city. In return, RNP will give the company an optical fibre pair in Goiânia.

The MetroSampa user institutions served by RNP will use the new network already implemented by Mega Telecom. Over the next few months, the project will finalize the last mile connections - small extensions will be made so that the fibre pair actually reaches the contemplated institutions. The expectation is that all extension and adaptation work will last six months, in order for the network to start operating.

RNP’s director of Engineering and Operations, Eduardo Grizendi, explains that the new network is a long-term project and seeks partners according to the model established with Mega Telecom. According to him, the signing of this first agreement is a big step for RNP to expand and maintain a quality metropolitan connection in São Paulo. "Anyway, we started this implementation. We aspire that the new MetroSampa have over 300 km and cover important points in the city in the next five years", says Grizendi.

The coordinator of the Academic Network at São Paulo (ANSP) project, Luís Fernández Lopez, guarantees that the arrival of the new network will surprise its users. According to him, with the available optical fibre pair, the speed provided for the entire fibre ring will ensure greater access to the connection. "There will be more people connected to the network and they will certainly be better connected, because we will have a very modern support", he says.

Mega Telecom CEO Carlos Eduardo Sedeh highlights the importance of the exchange with RNP. According to him, the agreement will allow the connection of relevant points in the city of São Paulo, through the optical fibre ring that the company manages and will make available to the network. "It is a stable and highly modern network that we are making available. It will be much easier for institutions to be connected with this agreement", he says. Sedeh also celebrates the opportunity the company will have in Goiânia, as the return for the exchange. "We will use all the expertise and credibility that RNP already has in the city to improve our services", he adds.

For the manager of the Unesp Scientific Computing Centre, Rogério Luiz Iope, the arrival of the new MetroSampa will complement the research work that is already being done in the university campuses. "We are already contemplated by the previous stage and now, with this extension, our scientific scenario can be improved, along with our skills", he says.

Image: Unesp Theoretical Physics Institute that houses the Scientific Computing Centre (NCC).