Review Board: CESNET2 One of the Most Advanced Networks Worldwide

There is no other project in the Czech Republic comparable in its scope and quality with the research plan for a High-Speed National Research Network and Its New Applications, implemented by the CESNET association in 1999-2003. This is a statement from the final review procedure that evaluated the results of the research project achieved by the solution team last year.

According to the Review Board, formed by leading experts in the field, in accordance with the worldwide trends in 2003 the research team concentrated on solving issues pertaining to optical networks, IPv6 protocol implementation, computing and access grids, multimedia services and also end-to-end performance, and generated results acknowledged on the international scale. Moreover, the board appreciated it that the research team joined several international projects.

The research plan was reviewed every year, evaluating the results achieved over the previous twelve months. The review procedure that took place on 14 January 2004 was based on the Interim Annual Report on Research Plan Solution Progress. Since last year the research plan was completed, the Review Board also issued evaluating statements on the entire project. Among other things, the board pointed out that in the international context the research plan was one of the projects dealing with issues of developing and operating national research networks (including the pan-European GÉANT network), and ranked among the top projects in terms of the network parameters and services provided. According to the Review Board, the solution approach and the technologies selected make CESNET2 one of the most advanced networks worldwide. This is also demonstrated by the fact that the solution steps applied in the research plan have subsequently been adopted elsewhere in the world.

In February 2003, the CESNET association applied for a new research plan for the period 2004-2010, and presented it by means of the Ministry for Education, Youth and Sports to the Government's Council for Research and Development.

Research Project High-Speed National Research Network and Its New Applications

The research plan for a High-Speed National Research Network and Its New Applications solved by the CESNET association was approved in 1999 by the Government's Council for Research and Development. In the first phase of the research project, the TEN-155 CZ network was established, connected to a similar project maintained by the EU member states, and subsequently the CESNET2 network was implemented. It forms an integral part of the network built within the EU 5th Framework Programme in the GÉANT project. Not only did these networks provide Internet access to the research and academic communities, but they also facilitated better cooperation with their foreign partners.

With its backbone gigabit lines, the CESNET2 network presently connects 11 cities, with other cities and towns being connected to the backbone network at capacities ranging from 34 to 100 Mbps. The network is connected with other Czech networks within the NIC.CZ association, and it uses a gigabit line to Bratislava as the primary connection to Slovakia. The academic world (the GÉANT and Internet2 projects) is connected directly in Prague with the capacity of 1.2 Gbps. Another 800 Mbps line is used to connect to the rest of the world.

In the course of the research project, CESNET used the operated networks to test several technologies that later became common standards. In 1999 as the first operator in Central Europe, they introduced the technology of direct IP transport over optical fibres for a long-distance connection (Prague-Brno). From 1999 they intensely researched the MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) technology and were the first operating network in Europe that introduced this protocol. CESNET also actively supports the IPv6 protocol, operating the only productive platform based on this protocol in the Czech Republic. This research resulted in launching a VoIP (voice over IP) network connecting universities, which is the biggest network of this kind in the country. The CESNET2 network also connects super-computers operated by various universities and the Academy of Science.

Besides operating the national research network, CESNET has developed its own research activities. Besides testing the above-mentioned MPLS, IPv6 or VoIP technologies, every year the association implements research projects dealing with high-speed network aspects. The most important activities include QoS (Quality of Service), AAA (Authentication, Authorisation and Auditing), network security, and storing data in remote networks.

In 2002 the association started to develop Liberouter, a hardware router for the IPv6 protocol based on programmable hardware. The platform that forms the basis of the router is universal to the extent that the technology can be applied in a wide range of solutions - from routers over network monitoring to video transcoding, for example.

The association also deals with aspects of transporting video over IP. In terms of cooperation platforms, it concentrates on special videoconference applications, such as medical data transfers. As to broadcasting, the association focuses on audio and video streaming in high quality and resolution (PAL, HDTV). There are also projects dealing with content management, in particular with metadata aspects.

The future of computer networks will also be formed by CESNET's activities concerning customer empowered optical networks and bandwidth on demand.

The CESNET association was established by universities and the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic in order to operate a national network for research and science. It is funded by the Government's Council for Research and Development and by its members. The association is managing the research plan titled High-Speed National Research Network and Its New Applications. At present it operates the CESNET2 gigabit network. Thanks to this position and its other research activities in telecommunication and Internet technologies, CESNET has represented the Czech Republic in and actively participated in implementing the GÉANT project.