INTERCONNECTS

Network procurements result in increased bandwidth and connectivity speeds to benefit European researchers in GÉANT2-connected countries: Researchers across Europe are now benefiting from faster collaboration, thanks to upgrades to the high bandwidth pan-European research network GEANT2. The upgrades were announced by DANTE, an international research and education network provider working alongside the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). The upgrades will provide increased bandwidth to a number of countries, further highlighting GÉANT2 as the most advanced, innovative research network in the world. The planned upgrades are taking place on a number of connections between specific NRENs on the GÉANT2 backbone. Specific regions that will benefit from improved high speed routes include mainly the Baltic States, south east Europe and Iberia. Connectivity has been upgraded to 10 Gbps to the NRENs in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Luxembourg and Portugal. An additional 10 Gbps link has been added to the NREN in Greece increasing the connectivity to three 10 Gbps links. Further upgrades include 2.5 Gbps links to Turkey from Bulgaria and Romania and a 2.5 Gbps link between Germany and Israel. GÉANT2 provides an extensive, high bandwidth connectivity backbone across Europe, with links to other world regional networks, to allow effective joint research and education collaboration between researchers on a global scale. By increasing the connectivity of links to these regions and improving the network further, provides researchers with world-class resources that will benefit science and education research by bringing together the best minds and eliminating distance as a barrier to innovation. DANTE, the international research and education network provider responsible for the operation of GÉANT2, is managing the planned upgrades and is working with a number of suppliers including Lattelecom SIA, Baltic Optical Network (represented by Televorgu AS, Latvenergo AS and Lietuvos energija AB), Pantel, Memorex Telex Communications (now part of Invitel), OTE Globe, Telefonica International Wholesale Services, Bezeq International, T-Systems Business Services GmbH and Prime Telecom. The upgrades are currently in progress and will be completed later in 2008. “High speed networking has revolutionised research across the globe and scientists, academics and students rely on advanced infrastructures effectively collaborate without distance being a barrier” commented Dai Davies, General Manager of DANTE. “With these upgrades to the GÉANT2 network providing even greater available bandwidth and faster connection speeds, we are able to provide a world-class service and infrastructure to Europe’s research and education community.”