National and European Networking for Education and Research – Where will we go within the next five years?

Klaus Ullmann

In order to develop some strategic views a review of the present situation in European networking for the education and research community looking ten years back and evaluating what has been achieved during the past decade is given. This includes a status report on the work presently done under the EU project Geant2. The future of networking for this community is forecast by evaluating new technology options which come up with optical networks (fibre and equipment) and evaluating moreover the market aspects for these goods.

A conclusion for a future organisational structure of research networking in Europe will also be drawn.