SOUTH BEND — Indiana University South Bend unveiled a lightning fast high-speed broadband Friday. It will connect IU to 40 colleges and universities across the state and it is another step in the city's effort to embrace technology.

It's called I-Light and the system now provides more than 40 campuses across the state high-speed broadband through more than 1,000 miles of fiber-optic cable.

"Great image ability will bring companies here," Rep. Pat Bauer told WSBT News after a press conference Friday.

Some say the new system highlights more than just higher learning.

"With the nano technology and research park both at Notre Dame and here [in South Bend], and then having this super trunk line faster than a speeding bullet I guess you might say, I think it's a wonderful thing for economic development," Bauer said.

With the Metronet, a similar system of high-speed fiber-optic lines throughout South Bend, some developers are heading downtown.

Mayor Luecke said the old South Bend School Corporation administration building does have a developer attached and they are looking to make it a data center but they are still searching for tenants.

"Businesses can bid out their broadband needs at a much lower cost to be able to get Internet to do research, so we think that will help us as we look to attract good paying jobs to our community," Luecke said.

So when it comes to a fast ride on the information highway, I-Light is one more ride Hoosiers are taking.

Indiana University South Bend says the I-Light system will advance research and learning for campuses across the Hoosier state.

It costs the state a little more than $13 million.