The Sun Corridor Network supports research and education at gigabit speeds around Arizona.

The three state universities—Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona—collaborated to create direct high-speed connections with each other and with Internet2, sponsored by the Arizona Board of Regents.

All Arizona research and education institutions are eligible to join Sun Corridor Network, which is E-Rate eligible. Members include K-12 schools and school districts and community colleges.

Members using Sun Corridor Network can leverage Internet2’s high performance, low latency network and enjoy the benefits of a direct connection to Amazon Web Service and Microsoft AZURE without the cost of an additional point to point connection.

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) mitigation service is available automatically to Sun Corridor Network users and at no additional charge for the “On-Demand” (self – monitored) feature. Since standalone DDoS mitigation is not E-Rate eligible, this adds substantial value to Internet/Internet2 service.

Like the national Internet2 network and other regional research and education networks, the Sun Corridor Network is uniquely designed and engineered to meet the needs of some of the most demanding Internet users in the country: scientists, academics, and researchers. About 95% of the combined Internet traffic of the three Arizona state universities transits the Sun Corridor Network through two 100 Gbps connections to Internet2 and the commercial Internet in Tucson and Phoenix.

The Sun Corridor Network is the only Internet2 Connector Network in Arizona.

One network member leveraged the unique opportunities of high-speed connectivity for high school band students eager to prove themselves in the next arena—college. Sun Corridor Network director Michael Sherman explains, “The Paradise Valley high school band beamed virtually into the ASU Gammage Auditorium for a live performance with the ASU orchestra. Music is one of those areas where you just can’t have a one-second delay.”

ASU Conductor Dr. Jason Caslor used LoLa (Low Latency) technology, coupled with Sun Corridor Network and the national Internet2 network, to virtually conduct the two groups. They experienced an indistinguishable delay of less than one-thousandth of a second even though they were physically 25 miles apart.

In addition to local opportunities, the Sun Corridor Network—through their sponsorship of members into the Internet2 community—enables users to join over 80,000 other schools in accessing educational content available through over 300 higher education member institutions, and over 50 leading science, education and technology partners such as the National Parks Service, NASA, the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Institutions served:

• • K-12 schools: 5
  • Universities: 3
  • Community Colleges: 2
  • Research institutions: 2
  • Regional Network: 1
  • Public Media Stations (PBS, NPR): 2
  • Public Safety Agencies: 2

Community Anchor Program member since: July 1, 2012