A deal between Microsoft and Janet, the UK's research and education network, will see over 18 million staff and students at learning institutions benefit from a cloud-based peering arrangement.
The agreement will enable improved access and security to websites, virtual learning environments and research projects by allowing users to connect privately instead of over the public internet. Using Windows Azure, it'll allow students and staff to take advantage of higher bandwidth.
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Signed at Goldsmiths, University of London, the deal will also enable education providers to use Microsoft's cloud-based Office 365 software.
"In the UK, higher education institutions are fortunate to have high speed network services as provided by Janet," said Professor Anne Trefethen, CIO at the University of Oxford.
"The capability afforded by Janet's peering with Microsoft's Azure Cloud with high-bandwidth secure connections creates new opportunities for researchers and the university community as a whole."
Goldsmiths, one university already using Azure services following pre-agreement testing, also welcomed the deal.
"The work on Office 365 will save the sector considerable time and money in legal due diligence and speed up adoption of Office 365," said Basem El-Haddadeh, director of IT services at Goldsmiths
"We're really pleased with the rollout at Goldsmiths and our staff and students are already enjoying using the new system. I'm looking forward to the benefits the strategic alliance can bring."
