Macedonian Academic and Research Network (MARNet) Fourth International Conference e-Society.Mk: ICT in Education Skopje, Macedonia 10 December 2008 Prof. Dr. Margita Kon-Popovska [email_address] MARNet MB

About MARNet MARNet is organizational unit of the Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje establish in 1994 year by auspices of the Ministry of research of R. Macedonia. Mission Provide international and national networking services to the Macedonian academic research & educational community and support to their research and educational activities, Promote and disseminate the use of ICT in the academic and research sector. Role Connection to the international networks with basic IP provision; Maintain and management of the national DNS, International memberships, National academic network policy and development.

MARNet is organizational unit of the Ss Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje establish in 1994 year by auspices of the Ministry of research of R. Macedonia.

Mission

Provide international and national networking services to the Macedonian academic research & educational community and support to their research and educational activities,

Promote and disseminate the use of ICT in the academic and research sector.

Role

Connection to the international networks with basic IP provision;

Maintain and management of the national DNS,

International memberships,

National academic network policy and development.

MARNet international organizations participation TERENA 1994 CEENET 1994 RIPE GEANT3 2008

MARNet international connectivity www.seeren.org SEEREN2 (6FP project) connectivity to GEANT2 68 Mbps 2008 Athens 155 Mbps Vienna point to point link to GEANT2 in few days 622 Mbps – 10 Gbps, 3Q 2009 – 2013 GEANT3 4 mbps 2004 34 mbps 2006 68 mbps 2007

SEEREN2 (6FP project)

connectivity to GEANT2

68 Mbps 2008 Athens

155 Mbps Vienna point to point

link to GEANT2 in few days

622 Mbps – 10 Gbps,

3Q 2009 – 2013 GEANT3

SEELIGHT Project South-East European Lambda Network Facility for research and education HIPERB Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkan Expected start beginning of 2009 Regional plan

SEELIGHT Project

South-East European Lambda Network Facility for research and education

HIPERB

Hellenic Plan for the Economic Reconstruction of the Balkan

Expected start beginning of 2009

MARNET actual/ potential users Staff Hospitals/others Academic staff / students Private Universities Academic staff / students University SEE , TETOVO 2 Mbps Administrative staff Government departments (national/regional/local) Teachers / pupils Primary schools/ clones (340 libraries) Teachers / pupils Secondary schools (75 libraries) Experts Research associations Experts/librarians Public libraries, Special libraries, Archives, Museums, Cultural heritage institutions 64 kbps Staff / users University Library BITOLA 1 Gbps Staff / users Faculty libraries, SKOPE 2 Mbps Staff / users National & University Library SKOPJE Research Staff Research / MANU, independent R&D institution Academic staff / students University , TETOVO Academic staff / students University STIP 64 kbps Academic staff / students University Ss Climent Ohridski BITOLA 1 Gbps Academic staff / students University Ss Cyril & Methodius SKOPJE Connectivity Users Actual and potential users (estimation)

MARNet network l Skopje -MAN optics deployed 2004 Based on gigabit multilayer switches Interconnect University campuses’ LANs Wireless optics and radio backup deployed 2004 Interchange point with national ISPs Participants: Faculties & Research Institutes in Skopje National library Austrian Government grant + NATO NIG project

Skopje -MAN optics deployed 2004

Based on gigabit multilayer switches

Interconnect University campuses’ LANs

Wireless optics and radio backup deployed 2004

Interchange point with national ISPs

Participants: Faculties & Research Institutes in Skopje

National library

Austrian Government grant + NATO NIG project

Gigabit Metro Optical Network Facts & Figures Owned by MARNet – Ss Cyril and Methodius, University Total length: 20 km Throughput: 1 Gbit/sec Optical cable with 12-18-24 fibers More than 95% students and academic staff of the University are covered

One of the key aims of the ERA – European Research Area Integrated networking & Grid environment = eInfrastructure MARNet strategy is participation in ERA & regional developments: NATO NIG, UNESCO-HP, Austrian government Grant SEEREN1/2 regional connectivity to GEANT2 GEANT3 member SEEFIRE: studying the feasibility of long-term solutions for dark fiber backbone in the region SEELight: long term lambda connectivity SEEGRID1/2 & SEEGRID-SCI: building the regional Grid infrastructure within and beyond EGEE 1st phase: infrastructure establishment, pilot applications, 2nd phase: infrastructure expansion, multi-disciplinary app. 3th phase regional grid applications: seismology , meteorology, environmental sciences SEE ERA-EI South east European Research Area for eInfrastructures ELISE: E-learning for Improving access to Information Society for SMEs in the SEE Area, Academia & SME’s cooperation in the SEE to improve the general competitiveness of the region Tempus project: Video Conferencing Educational Services Following European Vision

One of the key aims of the ERA – European Research Area

Integrated networking & Grid environment = eInfrastructure

MARNet strategy is participation in ERA & regional developments:

NATO NIG, UNESCO-HP, Austrian government Grant

SEEREN1/2 regional connectivity to GEANT2

GEANT3 member

SEEFIRE: studying the feasibility of long-term solutions

for dark fiber backbone in the region

SEELight: long term lambda connectivity

SEEGRID1/2 & SEEGRID-SCI:

building the regional Grid infrastructure

within and beyond EGEE

1st phase: infrastructure establishment, pilot applications,

2nd phase: infrastructure expansion, multi-disciplinary app.

3th phase regional grid applications: seismology ,

meteorology, environmental sciences

SEE ERA-EI South east European Research Area for eInfrastructures

ELISE: E-learning for Improving access to Information Society for SMEs in the SEE Area, Academia & SME’s cooperation in the SEE to improve the general competitiveness of the region

Tempus project: Video Conferencing Educational Services

Results -Services and tools structure Participate in implementation of some of a plethora of state of the art tools were incorporated and expected to be implemented through the ongoing and future projects Starting: Video conferencing, EDUROAM, CERT

Participate in implementation of some of a plethora of state of the art tools were incorporated and expected to be implemented through the ongoing and future projects

ACADEMIA & SME’s COOPERATION ELISE E-learning for Improving access to Information Society for SMEs in the SEE Area Training tutors, SMEs e - L earning platform, teleconferencing 10.000 booklets Policy maker workshops

ELISE E-learning for Improving access to Information Society for SMEs in the SEE Area

Training tutors, SMEs

e - L earning platform, teleconferencing

10.000 booklets

Policy maker

workshops

Conclusions Maturity of the MARnet is achieved, proved by acceptance in GN3 Thanks to SEEREN1/2, SEEGRID1/2, SEEGRID-SCI, SEEFIRE, ELISA and national financial support, remarkable results were achieved in the SEE region regarding eInfrastructure (including grid) Human networks Academia & SMEs cooperation Involvement of important stakeholders was achieved Government Public bodies Academia Businesses Significant experience in management of the multi country projects were gained New human networks were established pawing the way to new joint projects and cooperation

Maturity of the MARnet is achieved, proved by acceptance in GN3

Thanks to SEEREN1/2, SEEGRID1/2, SEEGRID-SCI, SEEFIRE, ELISA and national financial support, remarkable results were achieved in the SEE region regarding

eInfrastructure (including grid)

Human networks

Academia & SMEs cooperation

Involvement of important stakeholders was achieved

Government

Public bodies

Academia

Businesses

Significant experience in management of the multi country projects were gained

New human networks were established pawing the way to new joint projects and cooperation

Conclusions Complementing EC Framework Programs with regional/national initiatives (e.g. in the case of SEE initiatives like the Balkan Action Plan), EU structural funds, support/funding programs from global organizations like NATO, UNESCO, donations from industry HP, CISKO, SUN, etc., can contribute to the sustainability of the efforts We expect further international participation in joint projects in high performance networking, e-Science and e-Education

Complementing EC Framework Programs with regional/national initiatives (e.g. in the case of SEE initiatives like the Balkan Action Plan), EU structural funds, support/funding programs from global organizations like NATO, UNESCO, donations from industry HP, CISKO, SUN, etc., can contribute to the sustainability of the efforts

We expect further international participation in joint projects in high performance networking, e-Science and e-Education

Further plans But sustainability of MARnet will be achieved with expected low for MARNet status and stabile Governmental financing Highest priority development of the National backbone that will interconnect all the academic and research institutions in Macedonia Including possible other users: schools, public libraries, cultural and heritage institutions, hospitals and others In next 4 years upgrading international links in the range of 622 Mbps -10 Gbps

But sustainability of MARnet will be achieved with expected low for MARNet status and stabile Governmental financing

Highest priority development of the National backbone that will interconnect all the academic and research institutions in Macedonia

Including possible other users: schools, public libraries, cultural and heritage institutions, hospitals and others

In next 4 years upgrading international links in the range of

622 Mbps -10 Gbps