The present fiber optic cables have plenty of life left in them, but they are going to have to be replaced and rerouted. “It's a necessity. With the campus becoming more compact, facilities have been redistributed, and as a result two ICT hubs have been lost. We have no choice but to move them. It's a good time to lay new cabling given that the cabling is currently a ‘spaghetti’. The new fiber optic cabling will be given a more logical route. Moreover, the internet will work faster.”

The inconvenience will be minimal, but campus residents will certainly notice it. There may be some disruption for pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers. “Of course there's the physical inconvenience,” says Huver. “If we dig somewhere, there'll be a hole. But this too will be resolved as quickly as possible; a traffic junction being dug up for weeks on end is not on the cards. All the changes will be marked with detour signs.” The buildings will be tackled one at a time. Short sections of trench will be dug for pipe laying. Next, the pipes will be laid in the building.

Internet

No one is going to be without the internet for hours. Nor will the internet work any more slowly during the works. The new cabling will only become operational once it actually works. Until that time, the old cabling will be there as backup. “Two or three buildings at a time will be completely closed, but this will happen in consultation with the users. This may happen on a Sunday, which might inconvenience the people who work seven days a week,” explains Huver.

First of all, the main ring will be laid. The buildings Atlas, Laplace and Ventur will be the last in line. It is a major project and won't be completed until the summer of 2019.