SURFnet is the Dutch National Research and Education Network that provides advanced networking services to over 1 million end-users across 160 institutions. Through projects like GigaPort and SURFnet6, SURFnet has developed one of the most advanced networks in the world with over 8,000 km of dark fiber pairs directly connecting research and education institutes. GigaPort is a collaboration between public and private organizations funded by the Dutch government, industry partners, and research and education consortiums to strengthen the Dutch knowledge infrastructure through 2021.

1. 6/7/09GigaPort: the business-case

2. 2Who is SURFnet?Dutch National Research & Education Network (NREN)Not-for-profit organization, 70 employeesOwned by the research and education community> 1.000.000 end-users from 160 connected institutionsSURFnet provides advanced services to the research and education communityHigh performance networkingAuthentication and authorization servicesAdvancedonline multimediacollaboration

3. 3SURFnet6One of the most advancednetworks in the worldMore than8.000 km dark fiber pairs into the R&E institutesOwnphotonicnetworkHybrydnetworkservices:IP + lightpathsDynamiclightpathsavailablefrom December 2008

4. 4What is GigaPort?GigaPort Next Generation network is a five-year collaboration between public and private organizations that started on 1 January 2004GigaPort’s aim is strengthening the national knowledge infrastructure in The NetherlandsThe project is funded by: The Dutch governmentIndustry partners (via public tender)GigaPort Consortium (R&E)

5. GigaPort: best business case (Computable)The GigaPort project was elected the best business case in IT in the Netherlands in 2008 (out of 43 competing projects)Jury impressed by innovativeplatform for e-Science(e.g. e-VLBI OPN & LHC OPN) as well as societal value and impact (e.g. DigiBOB OPN)Jury complimented SURFnet for stakeholder management (intensive cooperation between government, HE&R and industry) and project management (on-time, within budget)

6. SURFnet, grensverleggend netwerk voor hoger onderwijs en onderzoek6Hybrid networkingProblemHow to accommodate needs of (scientific) users for high speed networkingWhile protecting the performance of the network for current usersAnd keeping the successful end-to-end model of the internetSolution:Packet switched internet for regular many-to-many usageLightpaths for new high speed few-to-few usageOptical Private Networks combine permanent lightpaths into transparent networks

7. 7Example-1: e-VLBI, a global radiotelescope

8. e-VLBI: global distributed radiotelescopeVery long baseline virtual radiotelescope, created by correlating outputs of multiple actual radiotelescopes (e-VLBI)Results- SURFnet connects upto 16 radiotelescopes to JIVE (maincorrelator), located in Dwingeloo

9. Example-2: DigiBOBBreastcancer screening fully digitized (900.000 women/year) Improves quality: image resolution (20 MB/picture) process (2nd opinion, 1 set of copies) research (correlation of data) environment (no chemicals)SURFnet connects regional organizations to central database using lightpaths (fixed bandwidth, fixed delay)Compliments received from Minister of Health

10. 10The SURFnet approachBusiness philosophy: Requirements of scientific applications are ahead of the general network marketsResearch networks are driving network innovationArchitectural principles:Keep It Simple!Bandwidthshould be like oxygen (no scarcity!)Financing approach:Operations paid by connected institutionsInnovation paid through subsidies and industry contributions

11. 11Build your own networkIncumbents operators are reluctant to provide the services required byNREN’s:Try to sell leased lines or IP-VPN, instead of dark fiber or lambdasImpose limitations on transparency and performanceTherefore:Use a commercial operator willing to go lower in the stack (e.g. a carrier’s carrier) or build your own fiberImplement neutral exchanges (IP & optical)

12. SURFnet developed both: Neutral & open internet exchange

13. Not-for-profit exploitation

14. 300+ connected ISP’s

15. Neutral & open optical infrastructure

16. Switching facility for (wavelenght) circuits

17. 13The GLIF approach to lambda networkingControlplaneControlplaneControlplaneControlplaneGOLELambdaUser AGOLEGOLENREN BNREN ACPECPEGOLEResource

18. 14GLIF: global multi-domain lambda networking

19. SURFnet, grensverleggend netwerk voor hoger onderwijs en onderzoek15Leidend in lichtpaden15June 7, 2009SURFnet, grensverleggend netwerk voor hoger onderwijs en onderzoekAs a result of the GigaPort project Amsterdam is now the main (internet) hub of Europe

20. 16Strategic impact of Research NetworksBreeding place for innovative use of networking and advanced applications (e.g. DigiBOB, CineGrid)Create a focal point for international cooperation in data intensive science projects (e-VLBI, LOFAR, LHC)Create broad demand pull in society for advanced products and services (e.g. dark fiber)Challenge industry players to develop innovative products and services (e.g. dynamic lightpaths)Research Networks: Engines for Innovation