GÉANT2 Global Connectivity
GÉANT2 builds on the substantial global connectivity established by its predecessor. From its launch in late 2001, the GÉANT network offered global interconnections as a fully integrated part of the overall service available to all participating NRENs. It established connections from the pan-European backbone to North America (NASA, and the research networks Abilene, ESnet and CA*net4), and to Japan (SINET). A GÉANT PoP was also established in New York.
By rationalising interconnection, GÉANT was able to provide improved access to intercontinental links to many NRENs struggling to afford high-speed intercontinental transit facilities on this scale.
Research networks around the globe use a diverse range of technologies, operational approaches and procedures. Nevertheless, increasing global interest in international research and education co-operation will drive and support the development of research networking services on a global scale. GÉANT2 is consolidating existing arrangements, rationalising and extending them to develop an integrated concept for global interconnection.
GÉANT2 is also benefiting from the connections to other world regions that have been achieved through other related research networking projects. These projects have taken the European research networking model and applied it to other world regions. This has helped to develop NRENs within these regions and has expanded GÉANT2’s links to significant areas of the world:
- Southern and Eastern Europe through SEEREN
- The Mediterranean through EUMEDCONNECT
- Latin America through ALICE
- The Asia-Pacific region under TEIN2.
The implementation of co-ordinated global interconnection will deliver huge benefits for international research and education collaboration.
