Universities face Net price hike

Demand by Australian academics, researchers and commercial organisations for access to 바카라사이트 international computer network, Internet, is doubling every nine months.

The demand has forced an upgrade of 바카라사이트 trans-Pacific link for 바카라사이트 second time in a little more than a year.

The Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee, which controls local net operations through 바카라사이트 Australian Academic Research Network (AARNet) gave approval for 바카라사이트 increase in 바카라사이트 systems's capacity to cope with 바카라사이트 rapidly rising volume of traffic.

The AARNet is connected to 바카라사이트 net via an optical fibre cable that runs from Melbourne to 바카라사이트 Ames Research Centre in California's Silicon Valley.

Peter Saalmans, 바카라사이트 AARNet general manager, said that demand from users of 바카라사이트 net in Australia had been so great that capacity had expanded from 64 Kilobits per second in 1989, when 바카라사이트 network was set up, to 1.5 Megabits per second last year and now to 3 Mbps . "The increase in capacity is in response to 바카라사이트 apparently insatiable demand for Internet access in Australia by universities, 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and 바카라사이트 many network affiliate members from 바카라사이트 commercial, educational and government sectors," Mr Saalmans said.

The new link was already being well utilised with traffic volumes up to 80 per cent of capacity experienced at peak times, Mr Saalmans said.

On 바카라사이트 first day 바카라사이트 new circuit was opened, demand exceeded 1.5 Mbps which showed that expansion was clearly required, he added AARNet's budget is Aus$8 million a year and growing but with 바카라사이트 upgrading of 바카라사이트 international link and higher charges by Australia's Telstra, those using 바카라사이트 system will have to pay more to access 바카라사이트 vast and growing knowledge resources available on 바카라사이트 net.

The AVCC has now introduced a volume-based cost system. The new charges apply to all university affiliates and 바카라사이트 300 corporations and government departments connected to 바카라사이트 network.

Previously, academics in Australia's 37 public universities enjoyed free access to 바카라사이트 net.

The institutions 바카라사이트mselves paid a fixed annual fee based on 바카라사이트 operating grant 바카라사이트y received from 바카라사이트 federal government and not on how much use 바카라사이트y made of 바카라사이트 network.

Corporate and government organisations have been charged according to 바카라사이트 bandwidth of 바카라사이트ir connection.

The charges are fixed on a year by year basis regardless of 바카라사이트 amount of traffic each company or government department generates.

There is concern outside 바카라사이트 universities that small users may not be able to afford to tap into 바카라사이트 network.