UST acquires ETPI services to upgrade Net capabilities

The University of Santo Tomas (UST) has acquired the services of Eastern Telecommunications Phils. Inc. (ETPI) to upgrade its Internet gateway connectivity to two Mbps.

This gives the oldest university in the Philippines the distinction of having one of the largest Internet backbones among the schools in the Philippines.

"UST appreciates the value of the Internet in education," Joevel Rivera, ETPI vice-president for the Internet Business Unit said.

He said the Internet opens up a borderless world where students can access enormous amount of information with no distance limitation, which is the reason why the education/academic sector has always been the first mover in using Internet technology worldwide.

ETPI's Internet backbone is the biggest in the country and is fully redundant. The company also manages the biggest local Internet Exchange service in the Philippines, the Manila Internet Exchange (MIX). This allows UST students and faculties to more efficiently exchange information with other schools and universities in the country.

"We are proud to be a partner of UST in its thrust towards Information Technology and thus giving its students an edge and competitiveness after graduation, ETPI business and consumer unit head Pastor Isaac III added.

He said it is interesting to note that ETPI, the countrys most experienced telecommunications carrier is providing the country's oldest university (UST) with the latest in information technology.

UST, the Royal, Pontifical and Catholic University of the Philippnes is a Dominican institution of learning founded in 1611. According to Rev. Fr. Roberto Pinto, UST vice rector for finance, by the year 2011, UST envisions itself as a center of excellence in various programs of teaching, an acknowledged expert in key areas of research in the pure and applied sciences.

The UST Computer Center which was organized in 1979 has gradually evolved into three divisions: computing services (EDP), communications services (networking), and information system development (ISD). All three work hand in hand to constantly keep abreast on the latest in computer trend and towards the cutting edge of today's information technology.

"We are confident that ETPI will be able to provide us with the latest in Internet technology that will help UST be in the forefront of education and technology in the years ahead," Pinto said.

Eastern Telecoms presently owns the country's biggest gateway to the global Internet at 77 Mbps. – Mary Ann Reyes