Avaya Media Contact:
Deborah Kline
P: 908-953-6179
klined@avaya.com
Prairie View A&M University to Open Networking Academy
with Avaya Fabric Connect

Complete technology refresh will equip students for networking in the 21st Century

Simplicity of Shortest-Path-Bridging networking overrules cumbersome, difficult legacy
systems

Shamrock Communications, an Avaya Connect Channel Partner, to provide ongoing
technical support
Santa Clara, Calif. & Prairie View, TX – September 14, 2014 – Avaya today announced that
Prairie View A&M University is set to open one of the nation’s first networking academies based
on Avaya Fabric Connect networking technology. The new lab will prepare students studying
information technology in Prairie View’s School of Engineering Technology for an industry that is
fast-paced and rapidly evolving using leading edge technology. Shamrock Communications, an
Avaya Connect channel partner will provide Prairie View Networking Academy with installation,
implementation and ongoing support services.
The simplicity, flexibility and capabilities offered by Avaya Fabric Connect will enable students to
understand how to overcome the challenges faced by many IT professionals in businesses
today. Burdened by the complexity of legacy networking, the move to cloud-based applications
and an increasingly mobile workforce, organizations are looking to fresh skills and insights as a
pathway to greater efficiency and cost effectiveness with and through the technology they use.
Avaya Fabric Connect technology will replace the legacy system in the lab that was difficult to
use and support and had become expensive to maintain.
Prairie View A&M is the second oldest public institution of higher learning in the state of Texas
and part of the Texas A&M university network. The university will hold a ribbon-cutting for the
new Networking Academy on September 17, 2014.
Quotes
“The aim of Prairie View A&M University Networking Academy is to give students a strong
foundation in in networking technologies for real world applications. We want them in a position
to be utilizing practical skills -- and also to understand leading edge technologies. Shortest Path
Bridging is important, students need to know SPB. That’s the future. It’s a very powerful
technology that Avaya has.”
Dr. Sarhan Musa, PVNA Director and Associate Professor & Boeing Welliver Fellow,
Department of Engineering Technology
“Educating the next generation of engineers is critical to enabling businesses to achieve the
effectiveness and efficiency needed to compete today and move away from legacy architectures
and technologies that currently hold them back. Avaya’s next generation network fabrics provide
that agility at scale, and eliminate unneeded complexity. Channel partners like Shamrock
Communications share our vision, and together we are proud to be associated with Prairie View
A&M University and the Texas A&M System to help them build the future.”
Liam Kiely, vice president, Fabrics and Virtual Infrastructure, Avaya Networking
“Shamrock Communications is excited to partner with Avaya and Prairie View A&M University.
This networking academy will help to provide the training and expertise to the leaders of the
future. We look forward to taking the lead on this academy and helping teach students in our
local community.”
Danny Poindexter, sales manager, Shamrock Communications.
Additional Resources
Tags: Avaya, Avaya VENA Fabric Connect, Avaya VENA Fabric Attach, Interop, Shortest Path
Bridging, SPB, IEEE 802.1aq, Networking, Virtualization, Fabric Networking.
About Avaya
Avaya is a global provider of business collaboration and communications solutions, providing
unified communications, contact centers, networking and related services to companies of all
sizes around the world. For more information please visit www.avaya.com.
About Shamrock Communications
Established in 1990, Shamrock Communications is a full service converged communications
company, specializing in business communications solutions, systems integration like Unified
Communications, Video Collaboration, Data Networking and Network Access Control. In 1996
Shamrock Communications became one of the first Avaya Business Partners in the Houston
Area.
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we believe these are reasonable, such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks and
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www.sec.gov. Avaya disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
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