ISC Networking & Telecommunications Services & Rates for FY 2014	Print Issue
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A number of ISC Networking and Telecommunications (N&T) rate changes will go into effect beginning July 1, 2013.

These changes reflect broad discussion with the Network Planning Task Force (NPTF), a cross-campus team of technology and business staff that discusses strategies and issues surrounding planning and funding for PennNet, as well as within the context of Information Systems and Computing strategic planning.

For a summary of NPTF recommendations, please see: www.upenn.edu/computing/group/nptf/2012/11.01.pdf

For help determining which services you require, please see: www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/networking/ or call (215) 746-6000.

All ISC N&T FY’14 rates are available at: www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/networking/rates/

—Robin Beck, Vice President, Information Systems and Computing

—Michael Palladino, Associate Vice President, Networking & Telecommunications, ISC

ISC Networking & Telecommunications
Services & Rates for FY 2014

Highlights of FY’14 Changes

Through a series of strategic efforts, ISC is able to keep FY’14 rates low, while greatly enhancing network capacity, security, and services. In consultation with the Network Planning Task Force, ISC has identified changes and additions for FY’14 to the Central Infrastructure Bundle, through which ISC provides numerous core networking and telecommunications services to the University community. The aggregate rate impact of FY’14 changes to fees for major network services—network ports, telephone service, and the Central Infrastructure Bundle—is a 2% reduction in costs from FY’13 rates. Overall, charges to schools and centers will be reduced by at least $400K.

In FY’14, major bandwidth enhancements to the campus network will augment Penn’s capacity to support computation-based collaborative research, and new and enhanced security features will strengthen network defenses against organized intrusions. Penn+Box (Almanac October 30, 2012), a new addition to our portfolio of collaboration tools, will provide secure, cloud-based storage to the University community, while facilitating easier, more secure collaborations with colleagues worldwide.

A $300K increase to the Central Service Fee, which funds the Central Infrastructure Bundle, is offset by a reduction in rates for network ports ($300K) and significant savings on telephony via PennNet Phone conversions and audits ($400K). In FY’14, rates for PennNet Phone’s full package of services (VoIP lines, phone sets, and voicemail) will continue to be 20% lower than traditional rates. These combined savings will far offset rate increases for email and other services.

For more information about ISC rates and what is included in the Central Service Bundle, see:
www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/networking/rates/data/csf.html

Infrastructure and Ports

Our Next Generation PennNet project continues to augment network capacity and to address the “big data” and collaboration needs of University researchers. Key enhancements for FY’14 include: a 10-fold increase in the campus backbone, an increase in Internet bandwidth from 3 Gbps to 9 Gbps, and a two-fold increase in Internet2 capacity. These strategic investments are enabling us to lower port charges, thereby saving the community $300K.

Activation fees apply to all port activations. See:
www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/networking/rates/activation.html 

*This is an estimate for budgeting purposes. Monthly support costs include equipment capitalization, hardware and software maintenance, and staff support.

Telephony

Note: Traditional voicemail (8-6423; V-OICE) equipment is no longer supported by the vendor. Traditional telephones (Meridian, Nortel, and Aastra) and voicemail will be replaced with PennNet Phone by the end of FY’14. To schedule your upgrade, please contact the ISC Service Desk at service-request@isc.upenn.edu or (215) 746-6000.

Since FY’09, a combination of PennNet Phone conversions and audits has saved the Penn community over $1.7 million. When completed in FY’15, the conversion to PennNet Phone is projected to save $2 million annually. In FY’14, ISC will continue to transition customers from traditional telephony services to PennNet Phone and will waive the $130 installation fee and provide limited subsidized wiring. For details, see: www.upenn.edu/computing/voice/phone/order-switchnow.html

For a complete description of telephony services and rates, see: www.upenn.edu/computing/voice/    

Call Center Services (ACD)

In FY’14, a 5% increase is necessary to support increased staff and vendor costs. See: www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/networking/rates/voice/acd.html

Email Services

Email rates will increase for FY’14, while storage rates will remain the same. Please note that there has been a significant decline in the number of Blackberry Exchange users, and if this trend continues, we will soon develop migration plans with remaining users to phase out the service by FY’14.

For a complete description of email services and rates, see:
www.upenn.edu/computing/isc/networking/rates/data/email.html

Video Services

The Penn Video Productions group offers a full range of production, storage, and distribution services, including production and consultation for Coursera. For a complete description of rates and available services, see: www.upenn.edu/video/pvp/

For information about Videoconferencing Services and Facilities, call (215) 573-8583.