The world’s most advanced research network, GÉANT2, maps a network footprint of more than 50,000km when completed that if laid out end-to-end, would circle the Earth.

By delivering a combination of high bandwidth, unrivalled geographic coverage and user-focused services GÉANT2 is pushing forward collaborative research in areas such as climate change, life sciences, grid computing, radio astronomy and sustainable development. Many of GÉANT2’s links operate at 10 Gbps –speeds which equate to transferring over 1,000 digital photos in 1.6 seconds.

The first hybrid network deployed on an international scale, GÉANT2 utilises both packet and circuit switching. It was officially launched in June 2005 and is co-funded by the European Commission and 30 of Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). Co-ordinated by research networking organisation DANTE, the pan-European network now has connections to research networks in the US (Internet2 and ESnet), Asia-Pacific (TEIN2), China (ORIENT), Japan (SINET), Latin America (ALICE-RedCLARA) and North Africa/Middle East (EUMEDCONNECT).

“Global collaboration is critical to moving forward scientific research and development to benefit people everywhere,” said Dai Davies, General Manager, DANTE. “The combination of the GÉANT2 network and its links around the world is bringing researchers together, allowing them to share ideas and make distance irrelevant. Much has been achieved in GÉANT2’s first year – but as more and more projects benefit from the network we see even greater results ahead.”

An example of the world-leading projects that GÉANT2 is supporting is DEISA (Distributed European Infrastructure for Supercomputing Applications). GÉANT2 provides the backbone to link DEISA’s supercomputers across Europe, helping to deliver the high performance computing power needed to solve major scientific and industrial problems. Current DEISA projects include research into genomics (the building blocks of human existence), climate research into simulations of extreme weather events and research using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to minimise automotive noise. DEISA involves 11 principal supercomputing sites across Europe, which with more than 4000 processors delivers an aggregated computing power of more than 22 TeraFlops (22 trillion calculations per second).

Through GÉANT2 researchers can collaborate quickly and easily with their peers wherever they are located, as well as benefiting from services such as the ability to work remotely, accessing their research and university networks from any connected location. Unlike the commercial Internet which uses shared links, GÉANT2 utilises switched circuits that can provide point-to-point services, guaranteeing bandwidth for high capacity applications. Users gain the benefit of having a virtual private network (VPN) without the cost or complexity of building and managing one. DEISA is one of the first projects to benefit from a VPN, using a topology currently being designed by DANTE and GÉANT2 engineers.

Through its hybrid nature, the network provides standard IP connections alongside switched links on most routes. In addition, dark fibre has been lit on many routes using Alcatel transmission equipment. Rather than leasing lit circuits from telecoms providers, lighting leased dark fibre delivers greater control over performance and costs and has been implemented across 12,000 km of the GÉANT2 network.

About GÉANT2
GÉANT2 delivers the next generation research and education network for Europe. With over 30 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 30 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. For more information visit: www.geant2.net

Press Release: GÉANT2 Network Delivers Advanced Global Research Collaboration (03/07/2006)
Cambridge, UK, 28 June 2006: Over 60 million researchers and students around the world are now benefiting from global collaboration through access to the GÉANT2 next generation research and education network. Celebrating its first anniversary, GÉANT2 is now 90 per cent deployed within Europe and has installed links to the US, Latin America and Asia to facilitate a true global research community. Celebrates first anniversary by installation of 45,000 km of network.
The world’s most advanced research network, GÉANT2, maps a network footprint of more than 50,000km when completed that if laid out end-to-end, would circle the Earth. By delivering a combination of high bandwidth, unrivalled geographic coverage and user-focused services GÉANT2 is pushing forward collaborative research in areas such as climate change, life sciences, grid computing, radio astronomy and sustainable development. Many of GÉANT2’s links operate at 10 Gbps –speeds which equate to transferring over 1,000 digital photos in 1.6 seconds. The first hybrid network deployed on an international scale, GÉANT2 utilises both packet and circuit switching. It was officially launched in June 2005 and is co-funded by the European Commission and 30 of Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). Co-ordinated by research networking organisation DANTE, the pan-European network now has connections to research networks in the US (Internet2 and ESnet), Asia-Pacific (TEIN2), China (ORIENT), Japan (SINET), Latin America (ALICE-RedCLARA) and North Africa/Middle East (EUMEDCONNECT). “Global collaboration is critical to moving forward scientific research and development to benefit people everywhere,” said Dai Davies, General Manager, DANTE. “The combination of the GÉANT2 network and its links around the world is bringing researchers together, allowing them to share ideas and make distance irrelevant. Much has been achieved in GÉANT2’s first year – but as more and more projects benefit from the network we see even greater results ahead.” An example of the world-leading projects that GÉANT2 is supporting is DEISA (Distributed European Infrastructure for Supercomputing Applications). GÉANT2 provides the backbone to link DEISA’s supercomputers across Europe, helping to deliver the high performance computing power needed to solve major scientific and industrial problems. Current DEISA projects include research into genomics (the building blocks of human existence), climate research into simulations of extreme weather events and research using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to minimise automotive noise. DEISA involves 11 principal supercomputing sites across Europe, which with more than 4000 processors delivers an aggregated computing power of more than 22 TeraFlops (22 trillion calculations per second). Through GÉANT2 researchers can collaborate quickly and easily with their peers wherever they are located, as well as benefiting from services such as the ability to work remotely, accessing their research and university networks from any connected location. Unlike the commercial Internet which uses shared links, GÉANT2 utilises switched circuits that can provide point-to-point services, guaranteeing bandwidth for high capacity applications. Users gain the benefit of having a virtual private network (VPN) without the cost or complexity of building and managing one. DEISA is one of the first projects to benefit from a VPN, using a topology currently being designed by DANTE and GÉANT2 engineers. Through its hybrid nature, the network provides standard IP connections alongside switched links on most routes. In addition, dark fibre has been lit on many routes using Alcatel transmission equipment. Rather than leasing lit circuits from telecoms providers, lighting leased dark fibre delivers greater control over performance and costs and has been implemented across 12,000 km of the GÉANT2 network. About GÉANT2 GÉANT2 delivers the next generation research and education network for Europe. With over 30 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 30 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. For more information visit: www.geant2.net