MRnet

1
MRnet

• The Manitoba ORAN

2
Topology
3
Governance

• Incoporated not for profit
• Each member institution has a board seat
• In kind administration and finance
• Gigapop housing at U of M in kind

4
Members

• University of Manitoba
• University of Winnipeg
• Brandon University
• Universitaire College de St Boniface
• TRLabs
• Smart Park
• St Boniface Research Centre
• Red River College
• Industrial Technology Centre
• MERLIN
• Selkirk Learning Centre
• Winnipeg School Division 1

5
Financial Structure

• Member fees are kept low 1,200 to 6,000
• Capital costs from CANARIE programs
• Operating costs from member fees
• Strategy is to maximize capital and minimize
  operating
• No dependency on external funding for ongoing
  costs
• Province is funding the link to Brandon

6
Plans

• Upgrade Brandon link to dark fibre
• Go north for University College of the North
• Awareness raising of research networks in
  Manitoba
• Link with the Manitoba government network
• Alternatives for bandwidth

7
Issues

• The small province paradigm and funding
  dependencies
• Raising awareness in the private sector
• Ongoing provincial funding for rural connectivity
• Carrier monopoly and high costs of connectivity
  outside Winnipeg
• Keeping networking technology current in smaller
  areas