If You Build It: Verizon & Temple University Celebrate National Engineers Week with Fiber Tech Talk
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Temple University’s College of Engineering celebrated National Engineers Week (Feb. 17-23) with a week-long series of events and presentations, including a workshop on Wednesday (Feb. 20) hosted by Kevin Smith and Jamienne Cahalane from Verizon’s Corporate Technology Group on fiber-optic technology, its benefits and how Verizon is using it to change the way people communicate.
Nearly 50 undergraduate engineering students and faculty members attended the workshop -- one of 20 sessions held throughout the week to give students and faculty the opportunity to 2013 -- demonstrate and learn how the engineering field impacts everyday life.
Smith and Cahalane provided an engaging hour-long presentation on fiber-optic technology and how Verizon uses it to deliver FiOS services and broadband connection speeds of up to 300 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds to customers’ homes.
"Verizon owns and maintains one of the largest and most reliable fiber-optic networks in the world," said Smith. "Our fiber networks are spread across 150 countries and 2,600 cities across the world, and locally, our fiber-to-the-premise network allows us to bring video services and Internet connect speeds of up to 300 megabits per second."
Smith reviewed the basic make-up of fiber-optic cables, how they are engineered to be used within Verizon’s networks and how different wavelengths of light carry voice, data and video signals to customers’ homes and businesses.
Cahalane discussed with the workshop attendees how customers’ in-home networks work and how the fiber-optic infrastructure supports the growing broadband needs of consumers.
"In 2015, the average U.S. resident will have seven connected devices," said Cahalane. "The fiber network makes everything customers want or need to do easier and more convenient by putting the power of technology in their hands through the connected devices they use every day."
Verizon partnered with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) to host Wednesday’s workshop. The IEEE, a non-profit organization that educates students through field trips, educational videos and industry speakers, is a leading professional association for the advancement of technology.
