UW System campuses will begin a transition from the nonprofit WiscNet to a new internally run data network that is set to be completed by Jan. 31, 2015, UW-System officials announced Tuesday.
The research and education data network affects how the university system connects to the Internet. Changes will be instituted over the next 14 to 18 months, according to a statement released by the UW System.
UW-Madison spokesperson David Giroux said students should not be affected by the change.
The new network will cost the UW System $33 million over the next five years, the statement said. This is a $13 million increase over what the network would have been expected to cost with WiscNet.
The state Legislature approved a mandate in the 2011-’13 budget that forced the system to discontinue its collaboration with WiscNet. Although some officials were opposed to increasing network costs, officials such as Assembly Speaker Robin Vos hailed the move as a win for free enterprise in a June 28 statement.
