GÉANT2 Marks a Giant Step Forward for European Research Activity
Press Release
Next generation network with massive performance of 500 Gbps is a global reference for scientific networking excellence
Luxembourg, 14 June 2005 - DANTE has announced that over 3 million researchers across 34 different countries will be better united than ever before in their research efforts following today’s launch of the world’s first international hybrid research network in Luxembourg.
The GÉANT2 network is the largest ever built for the European academic community and has been adapted to the evolving needs of Europe’s researchers by providing improved resources for handling the very large amounts of data generated by some advanced scientific research initiatives – including the new Large Hadron Collider at CERN and radio telescopes located across Europe – without disrupting the high performance service provided to the community as a whole.
Responding to the diverse requirements of the research community required an innovative technical solution. “We set out to design a very different kind of network” said Dai Davies, General Manager for DANTE, the research networking organisation that co-ordinates GÉANT2, on behalf of Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). “With a combination of switched and routed infrastructure we can offer a truly flexible and user-focused network.”
The network provides standard IP connections alongside switched links on some routes. The switched circuits provide dedicated point-to-point links, when needed, for the most demanding applications and create “priority lanes” for data traffic flow. In addition, dark fibre will be lit on some routes using Alcatel transmission equipment. Rather than leasing circuits from telecoms providers, lighting leased dark fibre delivers greater control over performance and costs and has been planned for implementation across two-thirds of the GÉANT2 network.
GÉANT2, the successor to the GEANT network, offers European institutions access to a wider pool of resources and expertise through high capacity connections with research organisations in North America, Japan, Latin America, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and South Africa and an imminent connection to the Asia-Pacific region. It will vastly simplify the process of global collaboration whilst also creating the world’s largest interconnected community of researchers.
"GÉANT2 is a truly giant step forward. With this modern network, we will ensure that researchers will be better and faster connected in Europe than anywhere else in the world", said Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding at the launch of the upgraded network today in Luxembourg.
Representing the seventh generation of pan-European research and education network, the project is co-funded by the European Commission, whose 93 million euro contribution represents 50% of total funding. The remaining financing is provided by the NREN project partners.
The project’s advanced and innovative services will also provide increased usability, flexibility and transparency for all connected research communities. It will also provide vital resources required for Europe-wide ‘roaming’ services. This will allow scientists to access their research and university networks from any location, at any time and make working boundaries disappear – with researchers working as easily in any institute across Europe as at their own desks. The development of a universal system of identification and authorisation will create a virtual pass to mobility.
Other developments include sophisticated network monitoring tools, improved security defences and the formation of a team of specialists to investigate and resolve performance issues occurring on the network. A parallel testing network is being created alongside the production network to act as a proving ground for new technologies, ahead of the commercial marketplace.
Details of the new backbone topology can be found at www.geant2.net
-ends-
About GÉANT2:
GÉANT2 delivers the next generation research and education network for Europe. With over 3 million users in 34 countries across the continent, GÉANT2 offers unrivalled geographical coverage, high bandwidth, innovative hybrid networking technology and a range of user-focused services. Its extensive geographical reach interconnects with other world regions, enabling global research collaboration.GÉANT2’s comprehensive programme of research and service development keeps Europe at the forefront of global research.
GÉANT2 is co-funded by the European Commission under the Sixth Research and Development Framework Programme. The project partners are 32 European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), TERENA and DANTE. It is co-ordinated by DANTE, the research networking organisation that plans, manages and builds research networks all over the world.
About DANTE:
DANTE is a non-profit organisation whose primary mission is to plan, build and manage research and education networks on behalf of Europe’s National Research and Education Networks. Established in 1993, DANTE has been fundamental to the success of pan-European research and education networking. DANTE is currently building GÉANT2, which will upgrade the GÉANT network and will continue to provide the data communications infrastructure essential to the success of many research projects in Europe.
DANTE is involved in initiatives worldwide to interconnect countries in other regions to one another and to GÉANT2. DANTE is currently managing initiatives focused on the Mediterranean, Latin American and Asia-Pacific regions through the EUMEDCONNECT, ALICE and TEIN2 projects respectively.
For more information please visit: www.dante.net
Editorial contacts:
Gareth Davies
Rainier PR (on behalf of DANTE)
+44(0)20 7494 6576
gdavies@rainierpr.co.uk
