The project will see BT, Cisco, and the University's IT Consultancy partner, PTS Consulting, deliver approximately 20,000 IP telephony handsets to the University over the next 18 months, replacing the existing system.
The University's investment will modernise the student experience, enabling students to collaborate in new and more innovative ways through the deployment of a converged voice, video and data network. Sharing information more easily will improve the quality of education and research, with students and academics using instant messaging, voice emails, streaming video and much more to share ideas in real time, from anywhere in the world.
Dr Ian Lewis, Director, University Computing Service, University of Cambridge. said: "As one of the world's leading universities, Cambridge is keen to attract and retain the very best students and researchers. Part of that involves providing thoroughly modern facilities that reflect our forward-looking relationship with technology."
John Dovey, VP, BT iNet, said: "This is a unique and ground-breaking deal in education which was secured against tough competition. It is the largest deployment of its kind in the sector and will provide students and staff with a communication system fit for the challenges of the 21st century."
Scot Gardner, public sector operations director, Cisco UK & Ireland, said: "By embracing Cisco's Connected Learning vision, through this project the University of Cambridge is aiming to transform the way students, academics and administrators collaborate and ensure the University remains a globally-focused, student-centric institution well into the future."
Simon Robinson, PTS Consulting Project Director commented: "The IP migration at the University of Cambridge is a complex project that must meet the communications requirements of 17,000 users spread over 200 institutions. Having guided the University through the solution procurement, we are looking forward to the challenges of rolling out the new IP-enabled telephony platform."
The University of Cambridge is BT's long-established strategic partner as part of the company's open approach to innovation. Through this relationship BT works with many of the best academic minds in the world on cutting edge research addressing the medium and longer-term critical needs of BT and its customers.