UKERNA - Welsh Video Network

The demand for advanced videoconferencing systems in the UK education and research communities had increased recently in line with developments in IP technology.

The United Kingdom Education and Research Networking Association (UKERNA®), which is responsible for managing the UK's Joint Academic Network (JANET), needed to source advanced, future-proof, scalable IP-enabled solutions to deliver high quality IP videoconferencing throughout the UK.

This multi-million contract awarded to Pinacl Solutions, is part of an ambitious and unique project to link all High Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges throughout Wales, in an integrated video video network funded by Education and Learning Wales (ELWa).

Dr Robert Symberlist of UKERNA® is the project manager of the initiative. He explains the reason for selecting Pinacl Solutions: "They simply offered the best value for this project. This is the first time that Education and Learning Wales has issued funding jointly between the two sectors - Further and Higher Education - and it is essential that we select suppliers that offer a high quality, value-for-money solution. This project will help us to establish Wales as a leading centre for the use of educational videoconferencing technology in Europe".

Key Features

Thousands of students and academics now benefit from access to the latest videoconferencing technology enabling increased employment of distance learning and teaching. Pinacl Solutions brought together several key suppliers in order to implement this solution.

Videoconferencing specialist Polycom supplied its world-leading iPower 970 system delivering outstanding video and audio quality over IP and ISDN. Networking vendor Cisco supplied state-of-the-art H.323 gatekeeper/proxy, and multipoint conferencing technology that will enable videoconferencing between multiple locations simultaneously.

In each studio, Crestron tough screen systems facilitate integrated control of all equipment, including codec, cameras, VCR, high resolutions visualiser and projector.

Pinacl Solutions provided training courses using videoconferencing technology to both academic ('Train the Teacher') and to technical staff ('System Administrator Training').