Building on AmericasPath (AMPATH) — the high-speed backbone that interconnects research and education networks in Latin America to the United State and the rest of the world — Florida International University and Global Crossing have joined forces to provide commercial Internet access to the University’s research and education partners in Latin America.

The three-year agreement provides the University with five international private lines for connectivity between points of presence (POPs) in Miami and the high-bandwidth connectivity to the worldwide Internet. It grants FIU the high-bandwidth service flexibility it requires to meet the varying needs of the regions it serves.

"Global Crossing's impressive offering for research and educational networks provides us with an exceptional array of options," said Julio Ibarra, director of Research Networking and AMPATH for FIU.

Universities in Argentina, Brazil and Chile, as well as the University of Puerto Rico, the Arecibo observatory in Puerto Rico, the Gemini-South and NRAO observatories in Chile, have been part of AMPATH, a network in which FIU provides them with access to Internet2’s Abilene network and Next-Generation Internet networks in the U.S. and throughout the world. These networks are restricted to research and education purposes.

FIU is using these new services from Global Crossing to provide additional infrastructure for its partner universities and research institutions throughout Latin America, as well as for research and education institutions in South Florida, including the New World Symphony.

"We are excited about our growing relationships with prestigious research and educational institutions around the world, including Florida International University," commented Pablo Mlikota, Global Crossing's vice president of corporate sales for Latin America and the southeastern U.S.