Taiwan's National Center for High-performance Computing (NCHC), a research institute under the National Applied Research Laboratories, is deploying the latest Cisco Systems routing and optical technology to build a world-class advanced network to support advanced research programs in Taiwan. A new IP+Optical network capable of transmitting 20 gigabit-per-second (Gbps) at its core, Taiwan Advanced Research and Education Network (TWAREN) will initially provide services to some 60 universities, colleges, research institutions and national research centers throughout the island. TWAREN will support services such as Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6), multicasting, network security, video, voice and integrated multimedia applications, which further facilitates cross border research and education activities. TWAREN consists of three tiers - production network, research network and optical network. The production network, which began operation in March 2004, is a dual circuit for its backbone and links to four core nodes. It supports multi-services, such as IPv6, MPLS, multicasting, network security, voice-over IP and integrated multimedia applications. "By facilitating international collaborative research, TWAREN enables Taiwan to transcend geographical boundaries and explore new possibilities in R&D, global collaboration and learning, discoveries and innovation," commented Juang Zhe Nan (Joe Juang), director, National Science Council's NCHC. "I am confident that we have made the right choice on Cisco's well-proven IP & optical networking technology, and look forward to enjoying the ultra-high performance and reliability the company's products offer in this demanding field." The Cisco(R) solutions include the Cisco ONS 15600 Multiservice Switching Platform (MSSP) and Cisco ONS 15454 Multiservice Transport Platform (MSTP). Both provide intelligent dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) technology and enhanced SDH capabilities. The products connect the 20-Gbps backbone with the four core network nodes and 11 GigaPOPs. The core nodes and the GigaPOPs are powered by the Cisco 7600 Series and 12000 Series routers that deliver high performance. "When the project completes, Taiwan will be equipped with a world class network that is on a par with those in the US and other top networked nations," said Jayshree Ullal, senior vice president for Cisco's Optical Technology Group. "The Cisco solution offers Taiwan a converged next-generation network with a high level of capacity and flexibility to support research and direct peering with other advanced international networks." Larry Chai, general manager of Cisco Systems Taiwan, remarked, "The National Science Council is obtaining a world-class IP and optical research and education network that will contribute fundamentally to Taiwan's research innovation and economic growth. We are very pleased to be part of this exciting project, and believe that the new network will further strengthen Taiwan's research capabilities and lay a solid foundation for the country's future in many areas of scientific and technology research." TWAREN is under thorough testing currently, and will be expected to be operational by March 2004. When completed, Taiwan's domestic bandwidth will increase forty fold, which is comparable to the United States and other highly networked nations.