Purchase of 3rd Party Programmable Optics

Tender description

Lancaster University has approximately 1,000 edge switches distributed around the University Campus at Bailrigg, Lancaster. These are mostly connected to pairs of distribution switches on 1GE copper (RJ45). A forthcoming move to higher speeds will change how we will be providing connectivity to edge switches; rather than pairs of local distribution switches the distribution switches will be remote from edge switches. We are a fibre rich site and therefore intend to dual connect every edge switch to resilient distribution switches over single mode fibre. The edge switches are currently a mix of 1GE and 10GE SFP/SFP+ uplinks. The initial purchase of the 3rd party programmable optics is for a specific new building. This allows Lancaster University to trial a new network design before rolling out dual fibre links to around 650 edge switches over the next 2 years. This procurement covers both the initial purchase (known as Phase 1) and all future requirements, subject to the agreed wider University strategy and satisfactory performance from the successful supplier.