An upgrading of the Hong Kong Academic and Research Network (HARNET) over the next few years will greatly enhance its speed and capacity - but critics say the upgrade will be inadequate.
More than $70 million has been approved by the University Grants Committee (UGC) to fund the phased plan which will see the computer network upgraded from E1 (2.048 mega bits per second) to T3 (45 mbps).
'By 1999 to 2000, the speed of HARNET will have been increased by up to 30 times,' said UGC secretary-general Nigel French.
The T3 upgrade, the largest since UGC provided $12 million to boost an Internet link with the United States in 1995, targets both the international and inter-university links.
HARNET was set up in 1986 as an initiative between UGC-funded tertiary institutions to link their campuses with international academic and research networks. It is managed by a Joint Universities Computer Committee formed by Hong Kong's eight institutions of higher education.
The first phase of the plan (1997 to 1998) will see the international connection upgraded to six mbs and the internal or inter-university link, which uses asynchronous transfer mode service, raised to 10 mbs. During the second phase (1998-99), which will be subject to tender, the speed will be increased to 20 mbs.
'The plan envisages a further upgrade to T3 in the case of the HK- US link by 1999-2000,' Mr French said.