CESNET Considerably Increased the Speed of CESNET2–SANET Connection

Prague; The CESNET association has increased the capacity of the interconnection between CESNET2, the Czech national research and education network, and the partnering Slovak academic network called SANET, raising the existing capacity of 1 Gbps to 10 Gbps. The optical line from Brno to Bratislava, which is approximately 190 km long, is fitted with CLA PB01 optical amplifiers that have been developed within research activities of the association. The G.652 fiber chromatic dispersion compensation is maintained using the Fiber Bragg Grids (FBG). No deployment of such optical elements in another production network is currently known. The general technical solution is extended with multiplexers/demultiplexers, allowing simultaneous transfer of up to four optical transfer channels with the capacity of 10 Gbps. However, migration to eight-channel multiplexers/demultiplexers or even multiplexers/demultiplexers with more channels is possible. Terminal routers are equipped with the Xenpak DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer) exchangeable optical interfaces. All devices are installed only at the end points of the line located in Brno and Bratislava; there are no in-line elements used – the association has applied the NIL (Nothing-in-Line) method again. The main advantage of the aforementioned solution is represented by its lower deployment and operation costs.

The CESNET2 network is individually interconnected with three foreign academic networks – Slovak SANET, Austrian ACONET (through the 10 Gbps line of the SANET network leading to Vienna) and also the Polish PIONIER (1 Gbps line). The CESNET2 network supports peering of the PIONIER network with the SANET and ACONET networks as well, utilising the EoMPLS (Ethernet over MultiProtocol Label Switching) technology.

From the perspective of the foreign connectivity of the CESNET2 network, the key connection is the line leading to the most powerful European academic infrastructure called GÉANT2, with the capacity of 10 Gbps. The CESNET2 network is connected to the commercial Internet using an IP service with fast access to the United States, provided by TeliaSonera. The line speed, currently reaching 800 Mbps, can be easily upgraded when needed. Connection of the CESNET2 network to the Czech peering center (NIX.CZ) is maintained by two lines with the capacity of 10 Gbps. In addition, the CESNET2 network may take advantage of the 10 Gbps line ensuring connection with the Dutch Netherlight network, including access to the worldwide experimental optical network called GLIF (Global Lambda Integrated Facility).

Concerning the national topology of the CESNET2 network, the CESNET launched operation of the first backbone line based on the DWDM technology already back at the end of 2004, featuring several channels and the bandwidth of 10 Gbps. One year later, this line was extended to the backbone DWDM ring interconnecting Prague, Brno, Olomouc and Hradec Kralove, the implementation of which allowed upgrading these nodes to the capacity of 10 Gbps. Other backbone lines of the CESNET2 network utilize the POS (Packet-Over-SONET) technology with the bandwidth of 2.5 Gbps and the Gigabit Ethernet. Lines to smaller nodes offer speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 1 Gbps, while these capacities are continuously upgraded in accordance with the needs of and the actual traffic at specific nodes.

The CESNET association was founded by Czech universities and the Czech Academy of Sciences. It is currently financed primarily from the budget of the governmental Council for Research and Development, and member contributions. The association conducts research and development in the area of information and communication technologies, builds and develops the national gigabit optical network CESNET2 dedicated to science, development and education. Thanks to the its research activities and the results achieved, CESNET acts as a representative of the Czech Republic within the development project of the pan-European network GEANT2 and actively partakes in its implementation. Besides other activities, the association partakes in the Global Lambda Integrated Facility (GLIF) project.