GÉANT launches third generation €186M broadband project

GÉANT provides the dedicated high-bandwidth pan-European network at the core of the project, allowing Europe’s NRENs to connect to each other through 50,000 kilometres of mostly optical fibre. Almost 40 million research and education users in over 8,000 institutions have the capability to share vast quantities of data, and collaborate across multiple disciplines throughout Europe and beyond, via the network

“The immense data processing capacity and far-reaching links of the GÉANT network ensure that Europe is the central hub of research and education, bringing together the best minds in the world”, said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, at the launch of the project.

“The European Commission’s financial investment into the third generation of the GÉANT project benefits Europe’s competitiveness, but is also boosting collaboration between researchers on a global scale.”

GÉANT and the national networks form the GÉANT Service Area. This “network of networks” offers reliable, seamless and transparent end-to-end connectivity and support services, creating the most advanced international research network in the world.

The portfolio of services offered includes virtual private networks with reserved bandwidth capacity for specific project requirements, network performance monitoring tools, and secure roaming and authorisation services.

By investing in the development and innovation of advanced technologies and services to maximise network efficiency and drive the user experience, this third generation GÉANT project aims to keep Europe at the forefront of research networking and e-Science, and shape the Internet of the future.

Dai Davies, General Manager of DANTE, the organisation that built and operates GÉANT on behalf of Europe’s NRENs, said the third generation project will build on the major successes of its predecessors and enable European researchers to benefit from dedicated bandwidth and advanced services that make international collaboration seamless and straightforward.”

Projects and collaborations that are underpinned by GÉANT include the Large Hadron Collider, the largest scientific experiment ever undertaken, and a telemedicine project to bring essential healthcare services to remote parts of South America.

GÉANT also played a critical role following the devastating Sichuan earthquake, transferring high-resolution satellite images from the EC’s Joint Research Centre in Italy to those leading the relief effort in China, and helping to speed up the reconstruction of infrastructure.

The new project will seek to bridge the digital divide faced by the research and education community, by working to stabilise the cost of connectivity and improve network links across Europe.