The Ball State campus computer network is state of the art in the use of technology.  The most appropriate technologies are used to ensure high availability and extremely fast and efficient throughput for the network as bandwidth and application needs dictate.  These technologies include traditional Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Ten Gigabit Ethernet and 802.11 wireless technologies.  Most of Ball State's network hardware, including switches, routers, etc., is manufactured by Cisco, current equipment supplier to more than 90% of the Internet.

Students, faculty and staff can access and exchange University network based information or data on campus from offices, labs or residence hall rooms.  Connection to the University network, which is relatively simple and straightforward, provides access to academic and administrative resources including: scheduling, library search, data processing, mapping, graphics, e-mail and on-line courseware.  Additional off-campus resources are available from throughout the world via the University's connection to the Internet.

Ball State is connected to the Internet through service providers.  Currently, these include AT&T and the I-Light, a new statewide optical network.  We are connected to AT&T through a DS-3 circuit and through I-Light as an optical circuit.  Our total bandwidth to I-Light membership throughout the state is 1 Gbps while our total bandwidth to the Internet at large is 345 Mbps.