INDUSTRY

BEIJING, CHINA -- China’s Xinhua News Service reported today that with financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NNSFC), Chinese computing scientists have constructed a trial next generation optical network. Chen Jia'er, chairman of the NNSFC, hosted government officials and well-known scientists at research institutes and universities involved with the network, or NSFCNET, Friday at Qinghua University. Employing Dense Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology, the 400-kilometer NSFCNET is connecting with the NNSFC itself, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing University, Qinghua University, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. The network is also linked to the China Education and Research Network (CERNET), the China Science and Technology Network (CSTNET) and Internet 2 and Asia-Pacific Advanced Network (APAN), said Wu Jianping, a Qinghua professor who is leading the research. The newly established network could provide multimedia real-time distance education, video-on-demand service and a comprehensive information database, Wu said. If the researchers get enough funding, they would build a nationwide advanced network over the next two or three years, he said.