Recommendations of the 5th Customer Empowered Fibre Networks Workshop

On the 14th and 15th of May, 2009, representatives of networking research institutions from Europe met in Prague to exchange experience in the design and operation of Customer Empowered Fibre (CEF) Networks and to formulate major guidelines for their further research and development. The host of the meeting was the CESNET association, which developes and operates the CEF national research and education network CESNET2 and dark fibre experimental facility CzechLight. The workshop was opened by Research activity leader in CESNET Stanislav Sima and presentations covered the very interesting new development of European research networks. Presentations are available at http://www.ces.net/events/2009/cef/.

The basic characteristic of CEF networks is the fact that the operators are the actual users, who just lease the fibre (or have it laid) and take care of the technology that transmits data over it on their own. Thus they have fibres at their disposal, or the right to use them, making their own decisions on the method of construction of the network (in particular, its optical transmission system) and on network control. As the users of customer empowered networks – often scientific and research facilities – have specific requirements for transfer parameters and prices, CEF networks are tailored to their actual needs.

The workshop participants confirmed that CEF networks have been successfully implemented at metropolitan, national and continent-wide level of research and education networks, and now CEF approach is followed by city authorities, companies, hospitals etc. Some photonic vendors help with development of this emerging market segment.

Participants

• appreciated presentations and workshop preparation;
• recommended next CEF Networks workshop including presentation of:
  • last mile solutions for lambda e2e services in campuses;
  • photonic equipment vendors and FTTx vendors;
  • lit fibre service providers.

The CESNET association was founded by universities and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. The association is currently financed mainly from the resources of the governmental Research and Development Board and funds of the association members. The association performs the research and development of information and communication technologies, building and developing the national gigabit optical network, CESNET2, designed for research and educational purposes. With its research activities and accomplishments, the CESNET association can represent the Czech Republic in the pan-European GÉANT2 network construction project, actively participating in the project implementation.