Proterial Cable America Inc. (PCA), previously known as Hitachi Cable America, has established itself as a manufacturer of reliable internet infrastructure for higher education since 1986. For many years, PCA has played a role in modernizing outdated internet systems at the University of Connecticut (UConn), a leading public research university celebrated for its outstanding basketball teams and recent NCAA championship win.
For over 15 years, PCA has partnered with Kathryn G. Shea of KGS Associates, LLC (KGS), a woman-owned business based in Connecticut known for installing communication systems, security systems and data centers. They are trusted Proterial Certified Installers and have installed Proterial cable in nearly 100 projects throughout New England.
Recently, KGS was hired through an electrical contractor who was awarded the business at UConn to install Proterial’s ethernet cable in a new dormitory build on campus.
Founded in 1881 as the Storrs Agricultural School and later renamed as the University of Connecticut in 1939, UConn stands as Connecticut’s largest
university. With a student population of approximately 32,000 in 2024, and
58,000 applicants competing for spots in the graduating class of 2028, the
university faces an ongoing challenge of accommodating its expanding
student population with strong and reliable internet connectivity across
campus. The growing number of devices per student and high residency rates have significantly increased internet usage, a trend that shows no signs of decline.
With the expanding student body and the rising need for multi-device wireless connection, UConn requires cutting-edge cabling infrastructure that will negate the need for further upgrades for the foreseeable future.
Scheduled to open by Fall 2024, the South Campus Residence Hall will feature 657 beds and a dining hall, centrally located on campus. During a walkthrough of the construction site by the Proterial team, the complexities of managing such large-scale infrastructure projects became clear. Effective management requires a meticulous review of design specs, the selection of contractors who deliver the best value at competitive bids, and strict adherence to building standards.
Scott Federowicz, Project Manager for KGS Associates LLC, noted, “The South Campus Dorm project initially specified Category 6 Premium Cables. However, because of growing connectivity needs, UConn’s IT team decided to enhance the project with Proterial’s Category 6A Ethernet Cables,” elevating it from the university’s previous standard for ethernet installations.
The South Campus Residence Hall will be the first building on the UConn campus equipped with this advanced cable solution.
The upgrade to PCA’s Category 6A 10G-XE cable for the South Dorm project was chosen because of the cable’s superior performance. Joe Lombardi, Regional Sales Manager for PCA, explains, “PCA’s Cat 6A cable doubles the internet speed of the previous standard, Cat 6 Premium, by supporting up to 500 MHz compared to 250 MHz. The increased capacity is best for highly populated areas like a dorm, where many students are online at the same time.” For example, during peak hours, students might be streaming videos, participating in online classes, downloading large files, and browsing social media. All these activities simultaneously require a fast and reliable internet connection. “Cat 6A cables are designed to maintain high speeds over long distances, ensuring reliable internet access for every student on campus, whenever they need it.” said Joe Lombardi.
In conversations with Scott Federowicz regarding his choice of Proterial products, he remarked, “It’s a small industry, we’ve installed over 100 jobs of Proterial’s cable throughout our 15 year partnership. Within that 15 years, we haven’t had cables
failing due to integrity.”
The implementation of PCA’s Category 6A cables in UConn’s South Dorm is set to provide enhanced bandwidth for its growing student population, ensuring reliable and fast internet connectivity for years to come.
