If you’ve ever been in the middle of an intense online match only to have your screen freeze, your ping spike, or your character lag across the battlefield, you know just how frustrating poor connectivity can be. Whether you're a seasoned gamer grinding through ranked matches or someone who picked up Mario Kart for fun at a friend’s house, chances are you’ve experienced how a bad internet connection can ruin the moment.
As someone who grew up gaming and now works in advanced networking, I can tell you with certainty: connectivity isn’t just a tech issue, it’s a performance issue. And nowhere is that more evident than in the world of collegiate esports.
Over the past decade, esports has gone from casual dorm-room gaming to full-fledged competitive programs on campuses across the country. Schools are investing in varsity esports teams, building dedicated arenas, offering scholarships, and even creating academic programs centered around the business and culture of gaming.
Esports has become a critical component of student life and engagement. It’s also emerging as a career pipeline, offering students opportunities in game development, broadcasting, event production, marketing, and sports management. These are high-stakes arenas where success depends on more than just quick reflexes; it depends on technology that can keep up.
And that’s where NYSERNet comes in.
At NYSERNet, we deliver high-performance, ultra-reliable connectivity to colleges and universities across New York State. Originally built to support the bandwidth-intensive demands of scientific research and education, our network now also powers something equally dynamic: competitive collegiate esports.
Our infrastructure is engineered for performance, providing ultra-low latency, high throughput, and a level of reliability that commercial internet providers simply cannot match. That makes a big difference when it comes to high-stakes gaming.
Esports teams in our network enjoy smooth, uninterrupted matches and responsive gameplay, whether they're scrimmaging against other schools, competing in national tournaments, or streaming their latest practice sessions live to fans.
Some of the institutions we serve that are making big moves in esports include:
In esports, every second counts. A sudden spike in latency or a dropped connection can cost you the match. That’s why having a network like NYSERNet is so important. Unlike traditional commercial internet, our dedicated research and education (R&E) network is built to bypass the congestion and unpredictability of the public internet.
This means teams can count on:
It's not just about having a fast connection; it's about having a reliable one that can support all aspects of a competitive esports program.
The benefits of a robust network reach far beyond the match itself. Modern esports teams operate more like professional sports programs, with coaching staff, analysts, production teams, and recruiters, all of whom depend on reliable tech infrastructure to do their jobs.
Here are just a few ways connectivity plays a role behind the scenes:
Fun fact: The SUNY Esports League, where many NYSERNet-connected schools compete, regularly streams tournament highlights on Twitch. It’s a growing community, and the network is what makes that experience possible.
What’s most exciting is seeing how campuses are transforming alongside their connectivity. What once was just about research labs and academic data sets now includes gaming arenas and digital studios. We’re seeing esports programs treated with the same level of strategic investment and infrastructure planning as more traditional departments, and that’s a huge win for students.
These programs are not just about fun (though they are definitely fun); they’re helping students develop leadership, teamwork, communication, and technical skills that translate into real-world careers. And it’s all powered by networks like ours, designed with education, innovation, and collaboration in mind.
Watching this transformation unfold has been incredibly rewarding. From my perspective, both as a lifelong gamer and someone who now helps build the backbone of digital education, I believe campuses that invest in high-performance connectivity aren’t just supporting esports. They’re preparing students for the future.
Whether you're chasing a championship or building your first streaming channel, the right connection makes all the difference.
And from where I stand, that’s a game-changer worth celebrating.
Chief Membership Officer