The document summarizes the North Carolina Next Generation Network initiative, which provides gigabit internet access through a public-private partnership between 3 commercial internet providers, 6 municipalities, and 4 research universities in the Raleigh-Durham region of North Carolina. The initiative aims to leverage this advanced network infrastructure to enhance education through virtual reality experiences, expand distance learning opportunities, and serve as a model for other communities. Key local partners involved include the universities, cities, internet providers, and various research and business organizations throughout the region.

1. North Carolina
Next Generation
Network
Smart Gigabit Communities
Launch
January 26, 2016

2. Community Overview
A successful public/private approach involving 3 providers, 1.1M residents
• 100% privately funded; public/municipal support but no public funds
• Six separate municipalities, ranging in size from 440,000 to 20,000 residents
• Raleigh, Durham, Winston-Salem, Cary, Chapel Hill, Carborro
• Four research universities, 2 public, 2 private
• Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, Wake Forest
• Compete on the court; collaborate in the lab (2015 Nobel prize Duke+UNC)
• GENI racks connect/support inter-university collaboration (GENI, SDN…)
• Home of Research Triangle Park (RTP)
• 7,000 acres, more than 200 research companies, 39,000 high tech workers
Advanced Networks – 3 Commercial Providers
• AT&T GigaPower – Online in 5 cities and actively introducing coverage in 6th
• Added coverage for community centers, low income MDUs
• Municipal permits indicate there are approximately 100,000 residences
with service available within NCNGN cities; continuing expansion
• Google Fiber – Construction phase in progress
• Frontier Communications – Limited availability (Durham); expanding coverage

3. Key Local Partners
• University students
and research centers
• Private corporations,
research endeavors
and tech industry
• Several private
‘incubators’
• Four Universities
• Six Cities
• AT&T
• MCNC (State-wide
Research & Education
Network)
• RENCI (Renaissance
Computing Institute, a
collaboration of the local
universities)
• 4 University CIOs
• 6 City CIOs/IT
Directors
• Chambers of
Commerce
PARTNERS
Sources of
DEVELOPERS
Community
LEADERS

4. VR Immersive Experiences
Use Virtual Reality to enhance education & workforce development
Use GENI sites to deploy and stream on-
demand VR content to enhance education
and develop the workforce within the region.
Phase 1: Introduce via low-speed networks
and inexpensive viewers, or through public
access community centers (1Gbps connected)
and quality viewers. Focus on reproducible
to lower development costs of VR content.
Phase 2: Use Gig services and GENI sites to
live-stream VR content to multiple gigabit sites
and enable on-demand viewing.
Lead developer/group
North Carolina Next Generation Network
GENERAL

5. Real-Time Distance Learning
Expand & create one-to-many and on-demand interactive experiences
Utilize gigabit network speeds and
GENI computing to enhance existing
online training software with support
for multiple streams with real-time
viewing of all participants.
Incorporate one-button notification to
mentors for scheduled or on-demand
help and embed accessories such as
white board viewing.
Lead developer/group
North Carolina Next Generation Network
GENERAL

6. What we have to offer to other communities
• Extensive commitment “from uni’s to muni’s” (universities to municipalities)
to establish and support testbeds (of various sizes) for next generation apps
• Deep infrastructure expertise from universities (GENI, SDN, Shibboleth)
• A multi-vendor network infrastructure for gigabit testbeds
• Experience coordinating regional municipalities of various sizes
• Effective methods for appealing to commercial broadband providers
• RFP process, being replicated elsewhere in NC
• VR research and emerging technologies
• NC State DELTA Instructional Innovation Services
• Extensive clinical care functions as well as medical and health research
• Duke (4 hospitals; 100+ clinics), UNC (6 hospitals with 800+ beds in
Chapel Hill and other NC cities), Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
(combining clinical, academic and Wake Forest Innovations, which
drives innovation via partnerships, education, licensing and start-ups)