DANTE, representing the pan-European GÉANT network, and the America Connects to Europe project (ACE), managed by Indiana University, have launched a Prior Information Notice (PIN) to progress the implementation of the first ever 100G (gigabits per second) transatlantic links for the research and education community.
Whereas big research projects are already benefiting from the superfast 100G speeds presently being rolled out across the GÉANT network, it is DANTE’s view that data flows may suffer in the near future once they reach the Atlantic. Between them GÉANT and ACE already offer over 80Gbps of transatlantic connectivity, however this is comprised of multiple 10G links and will lead to bottlenecks in the future for those 100G users. For that reason, DANTE aims to replace these over time with multiple 100G links, ensuring that partners in large research projects in areas such as radio astronomy, global earth observation, medical research and particle physics continue to benefit from the best available connectivity.
Cathrin Stöver, Chief International Relations and Communications Officer, DANTE commented: “GÉANT will very soon offer 100Gbps capacity across the pan-European network, and similar capacity is available in North America. We are determined to extend that capacity across the Atlantic in order to stay ahead of the ‘data deluge’ generated by the research community and avoid bottlenecks in the future. Therefore, it is imperative that research and education (R&E) networks such as GÉANT work together to push the envelope of networking technology and deliver economies of scale. By launching this initiative, DANTE is taking the lead in further strengthening links with North America, and ensuring GÉANT remains at the heart of the global research village.” The ideal outcome of this PIN is to run exploratory trials as part of a larger collaborative effort with other R&E networks on either side of the Atlantic, which may lead to subsequent production offerings following full procurement later in 2013.
