EARTH, connected and faster than ever
On Feb. 27, EARTH University, with the financial support of the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) division of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE), signed a 6-month agreement that will provide a new high-speed broadband network to EARTH’s Guácimo campus.
The fiber optics project measures nearly 12 km (7.4 miles) and brings 104 FFTH (Fiber to the Home) solutions, offering EARTH students, faculty and staff a faster and more stable Internet connection.
Last year, the University’s engineering unit replaced all of the residential cabling, installing tubing perfect for holding new fiber optic threads. This, in turn, helped to reduce the estimated cost of the current project and guarantees its viability.
In addition to the Internet benefits, campus residents can take advantage of the new cabling for other ICE services, such as digital television.
Arturo Condo y Jaime Palermo, Gerente de Telecomunicaciones del ICE tras la firma del contrato.
“Technology and a high-quality connection will empower and widen the reach of EARTH’s mission,” said Arturo Condo, University president. “We envision many growth opportunities made possible by the technology that ICE is supplying us and the new developments with which they will equip us in the future.”
This fiber optics agreement is one of the many ways ASHA has contributed to EARTH throughout the years. Last year, the agency replaced all indoor and outdoor campus lighting with energy-efficient LED bulbs and recently approved the construction of two new residential buildings – one on the Guácimo campus and another at La Flor.
“Our aim is always to work with the environment and to achieve the objectives of ASHA. That’s why they’ve chosen us to receive their funding,” said Luis Carlos Ruiz, EARTH’s project engineer in charge of relations with ASHA. “We serve as an example of strong sustainability and technology use, and we strive to be a source of inspiration while improving the lives of students and having a positive effect on our surrounding communities.”
EARTH’s partnership with USAID’s ASHA has benefitted the education of more than 2,000 young people from around the globe.
Interested in supporting techno-sustainability projects at EARTH? Donate here.
