1.0INTRODUCTION
This project proposal seeks to explain how the expansion of the use of mobile technology in the University of Toronto can be achieved; by the use of fibre optic cable. Fibre optics is a very useful mode of communication. Basically, it is a technology wherein glass threads or plastic is used to transmit information. Such a cable consists of a bunch of glass threads and messages are modulated into light waves. With a higher bandwidth, fiber optic cables are capable of carrying more data than any other mode of communication.
The demand for education, all over the world, is increasing with the increase in population (Reudink, 2007). Consequently, educational institutions including institutions of higher learning such as universities and colleges are increasingly grappling with over-stretched facilities. This is because the facilities in these institutions were built for much smaller capacities than they currently serve. As such, there is threat of compromising the quality of education in these institutions if the necessary measures, to increase the capacities of these facilities, are not implemented.
1.1 BACKGROUND
The growth of fibre optic connection is evident in major cities. It has received a great response in the last decade. Globally, the demand reached 182 million fire kms. Undoubtedly, there are numerous applications of fibre optics. For every application there are different characteristics of fibre optical cable that are used. Fibre optics is able to hold huge amounts of data compare to cable wires due to their unmatched speeds and network stability (Skoog, 2001). This will be applied on the extensive use of mobile devices on a 3G and 4 G network. This project proposal seeks to divulge details of rolling out the technology including the opportunities and difficulties thereof.
Fibre optics is communication protocol that uses thread to send or transmit data(Brillant, 2008, p.126). These glass threads transmit messages that are modulated into light waves. According toPan & Polishuk (2005, p.2), fibre optic comes with several advantages over cable wires. Using fibre optic allows you to work with a greater bandwidth meaning more data is transmitted(Majumdar, 2011). This is because, in stark contrastwith cable wires, fibre optics is susceptible to interference. Fibre optic cables are thinner hence transmit data in the natural form rather than analogically. The main disadvantage that they come with is the high costs of implementation. Communication growth in the University of Toronto will be aided by the implementation of fibre optic cables since they not only support internet connections but also ease telephone communication(Noire, 2011).
Mobile use based on implementing fibre optic cabling in the university brings a realization of easier and faster means of communication. The speeds of fibre optic in Toronto started at 10mbps (megabytes per seconds) up to 50mbps, growing in terms of bandwidth.
These are higher than those of the DSL lines which had a maximum speed of 20mbps(Downing, 2004).
1.2 PURPOSE
This research proposal seeks to explore the expansion of the University of Toronto’s communication infrastructure by replacing the copper telephone and internet cables with the modern fibre-optic cables. It is envisaged that the fibre-optic cables will increase the capacity of the telecommunication infrastructure of the University of Toronto by up to 150%. It will in particular focus on the use of fibre-optic cables to increase mobile communication for academic purposes.
2.0 SCOPE
The report will explain the type fibre optic cable that will be used, and the locations, within the University of Toronto, in which they will be laid out. In addition, the report will provide a detailed plan of the network configuration, including installation procedures, manuals and guides that will be used during implementation. Furthermore, this proposal will give a detailed time schedule outlining the time that will be taken to implement the various stages of the project. The time schedule will act as the time framework within which the progress of the project will be determined.
Also, this proposal will endeavour to give a detailed list as well as the descriptions of the facilities and equipment that will be used in the proposed project. Further to their descriptions, brief explanations of the functioning of the equipment will also be outlined in the proposal. This report will also propose a budget for implementing the whole project based on the current market prices of the requisite equipment around the city of Toronto. Finally, this report will give a concise summary summing up the implementation of the proposed fibre optic cable network within the University of Toronto.
3.0 METHODOLOGY
3.1 Procedure
This report will focus adopt a two-pronged approach in analysis of both the telecommunication and education sectors. It will analyse the task environment in which the envisaged fibre optic cable network will be implemented. According to Senior (2002) the emergence of fibre optic cables has opened a wide array of opportunities in virtually all economic sectors countries, both developed and developing. As such, this report will analyse how fibre-optic cable can be implemented to explore the opportunities it offers in higher learning.
The report will collect data from all the stakeholders in the university in order to assess the implications of the proposed project, whether positive or negative. As such, this report will conduct several telephonesand face-to-face interviews with all the stakeholders including the students of the University of Toronto, lecturers, administration, and junior employees as well other stakeholders such as education officers, quality assurance officers and the public. Thereafter, thereport will carry out an analysis of the data collected in order to assess the key trends in the education sector and their implications for the projects implementation.
3.2 Data Collection
Data collection is critical in any report methodology. This is because data when processed or analysed provides information which is interpreted to make appropriate decisions. It helps the research team to pave way for accomplishing the process. It is nothing less than planning and for proper data collection, you need to be vigilant in terms of all the requisite characteristics of the product.
3.2.1 Objectives ofData Collection
1. To analyse the implications of the fibre optic cable network in the University of Toronto
2. To identify limitations and possible areas of improvement before the final roll-out of the project
3. To enable a team to produce information about the process on the whole and collect valuable information for the improvement of the process.
3.3 Types of Data Required
Both primary and secondary data will be used in writing the report. This report will utilise written data from telecommunication companies and research firms, reports from governmental agencies, articles in the newspapers and journals in the telecommunication industry. Moreover, it will record data from interviews and questionnaires with all the stakeholders in both education and telecommunication sectors. Furthermore, the report will compare the data collected against the standards against the global standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEE).
3.4 Data Gathering Process
This report will predominantly use data from interviews, both face-to-face and telephone, and questionnaires. The interviewees will include the president of the University of Toronto, the senior management and administrators, junior employees, student leaders and students from a representative sample size of 2,200 from all the campuses.
3.5 Data Management
The interviews and questionnaires will contain the same information, usually in the form of questions, all assessing the impact of fibre-technology with respective to three task-environment forces namely economical, technological and socio-cultural. The questions in the questionnaires will be categorized according to the stakeholders and will require either yes or no answers denoted with a Y or N respectively. However, telephone and face-to-face interview questions will be open-ended and will include: Why? What? Where? How?
