Réseau d'informations scientifiques du Québec
 | |
| Not-for-profit cooperative | |
| Industry | Telecommunications network |
| Headquarters | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Key people | Michel Vanier (CEO) |
| Website |
www |
The Réseau d'informations scientifiques du Québec (RISQ; lit. "Quebec Scientific Information Network") is the optical research and education network in the province of Quebec, Canada. A non-profit cooperative established in 1989 by leaders from Quebec's universities,[1] RISQ originally connected those universities to the U.S. government's NSFNET using leased telephone connections. The Government of Quebec provided RISQ with a $37 million grant in 2000 on the condition that the network expand to cover all post-secondary institutions in the province.[2] RISQ now operates a high capacity broadband network throughout Quebec using over 6,000 kilometres (3,700 mi) of fibre-optic cable.[1]
RISQ provides broadband Internet access to its over 150 member institutions which include universities, CEGEPs, teaching hospitals, government departments and agencies, non-profit organizations, and the Mont Mégantic Observatory.[1][2] It serves approximately 750,000 users.[3]
RISQ connects to research and education networks elsewhere in Canada and internationally through the national CANARIE network, which exchanges with RISQ at the Montreal Internet Exchange. It also maintains a direct connection to the Ontario Research and Innovation Optical Network via Ottawa.
References
- 1 2 3 "Histoire". À propos du RISQ (in French). RISQ Inc. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- 1 2 Lindeman, Tracey (2 May 2015). "The history of Quebec and Canada's Internet networks as told by the people who were there". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
- ↑ "RISQ (Quebec Scientific Information Network)". Members List. Computer Research Institute of Montreal. Retrieved 6 October 2015.