Servecentric scores €1m deal with HEAnet


10 Oct 2006

Data centre player Servecentric has secured a €1m deal to provide the entire hosting infrastructure for HEAnet, the organisation responsible for providing networking and connectivity to all of Ireland’s universities, institutes of technology and research bodies.

Servecentric will enable HEAnet to enhance its growing broadband network as well as increase capacity on the network to offer additional services to colleges and students.

John Boland, CEO, HEAnet, said: “Servecentric’s world-class facilities are the ideal hosting environment for HEAnet. Its dedicated hosting suite gives us the reassurance we require when looking after the internet requirements of over 150,000 higher education students as well as primary and post-primary schools under the schools broadband initiative.

The internet is fundamentally changing the way students carry out their studies. Online learning and research enables students to access information quickly and efficiently. It is also improving inter-college collaboration, both within Ireland and with their international counterparts.

HEAnet’s high-speed broadband network is allowing Irish colleges and students to take full advantage of these online educational and research advances.

HEAnet’s data will be hosted at Servecentric’s data centre in Blanchardstown.

“HEAnet is at the forefront of Ireland’s growing reputation as a centre of excellence in education and we are delighted to play an integral part in this,” said Jason O’Conaill, sales and marketing director of Servecentric.

“Easy access to fast and reliable broadband is just as important in education as it is for business,” O’Conaill added.

By John Kennedy