Ciena Corporation and SURFnet, the organization that runs
the national research and education network (NREN) of the Netherlands,
announced an agreement to build a next-generation Ethernet network, based on
Ciena’s Carrier Ethernet solutions and OneControl Unified Management System.
Ciena’s portfolio enables research and
education (R&E) institutions to benefit from dynamic bandwidth connections
between regional and international sites, allowing real-time collaboration and
sharing of resources in scientific computing-based research and opening the
doors to the development of private and hybrid cloud services.
As the driving force behind information and communication
technologies (ICT) based innovation in higher education and research in the
Netherlands, SURFnet
supports more than one million users with its state-of-the art
nationwide optical and packet switching architecture, implemented in a network
built by Ciena.
Recently, Ciena was selected to implement the next phase
of network development, called SURFnet7, which is
part of the government-funded GigaPort3 project. With a focus on flexibility
and scalability, this phase includes the addition of a new resilient Ethernet
layer to the network, enabling SURFnet to create and deliver tailored Ethernet
services for its network users all supported by comprehensive Layer 2/3
performance monitoring and troubleshooting tools.
There is an increasing need of cross-border
collaboration for both education and research purposes so it is therefore
essential that SURFnet has the most innovative and reliable network
architecture in place,” said Kees Neggers, managing director of SURFnet.
Our successful collaboration with Ciena has already
provided us one of the world’s most advanced coherent optical networks, which
includes 100 Gbps links to our international partners. Our next objective is to
provide flexible and scalable Ethernet services for our users, and I am
confident that our long-standing partnership with Ciena will enable SURFnet to
continue providing the Dutch academic community with the tools required for
groundbreaking research,” Neggers added.
SURFnet is also implementing OneControl for a unified
view of its entire network, covering not only the Ethernet layer, but also its
coherent optical network. With unique multi-layer intelligence, Ciena’s
OneControl provides SURFnet comprehensive visibility across its network –
including access, metro and core – ensuring efficient use of assets and
bandwidth, ease of operations and faster service provisioning.
Ciena’s Ethernet solution will complement SURFnet’s
existing optical network, creating an intelligent infrastructure to easily and
effectively deliver tailored Ethernet-based services for its diverse community
of users,” said Peter Newcombe, vice-president of sales, Northern and Eastern
Europe at Ciena.
The expanded relationship between SURFnet and Ciena
involves extensive testing of the new Ethernet network layer later this year,
with the planned upgrade of approximately 300 sites during 2012.
By TelecomLead.com Team
[email protected]
