Optical capacity world record set

Infinera and DANTE (Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe), an operator of advanced networks for research and education, have achieved a Guinness World Record for the fastest rate of provisioning multiterabit optical capacity across the GÉANT Network.

DANTE, which builds and operates high-speed communication infrastructure for research institutions throughout Europe, achieved this feat on the GÉANT network, which is based on the DTN-X packet optical transport networking platform from Infinera. GÉANT is the largest research and education communications network in Europe. It has 50 million users located at 10,000 different academic and government research establishments across the continent (including such highly regarded ones as CERN in Switzerland). With the need to provide large amounts of data to such a huge number of users, in order to support vital scientific studies and investigations, it is critical that DANTE can bring additional capacity online rapidly.

Infinera and DANTE were able to install and activate eight terabits per second (Tbps) of long-haul, super-channel optical capacity, enough capacity to simultaneously stream 1.6 million high-definition movies in each direction. This capacity was activated across the GÉANT production network in 19 minutes and 1 second after plugging in the first line card.

DANTE is a non-profit organisation established in 1993 that plans, builds and operates large-scale, advanced networks for research and education. On behalf of Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), DANTE has built and operates GÉANT, a flagship e-infrastructure key to achieving the European Research Area.

Working in cooperation with the European Commission and in close partnership with Europe’s NRENs and international networking partners, DANTE remains fundamental to the success of global research collaboration.

DANTE manages research and education (R&E) networking projects serving Europe (GÉANT), the Mediterranean (EUMEDCONNECT), Sub-Saharan Africa (AfricaConnect), Central Asia (CAREN) regions and coordinates Europe-China collaboration (ORIENTplus). DANTE also supports R&E networking organisations in Latin America (RedCLARA), Caribbean (CKLN) and Asia-Pacific (TEIN*CC). For more information visit: http://www.dante.net.

GÉANT is a pan-European research and education network that interconnects Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). Together they connect over 50 million users at 10,000 institutions across Europe, supporting research in areas such as energy, the environment, space and medicine.

Operating at speeds of up to 500 Gbps and reaching over 100 national networks worldwide, GÉANT is the largest and most advanced research and education network in the world.

Co-funded by the European Commission under the EU’s 7th Research and Development Framework Programme, GÉANT is a flagship e-infrastructure key to achieving the European Research Area - a seamless and open European space for online research - and assuring world-leading connectivity between Europe and the rest of the world in support of global research collaborations.

The network and associated services comprise the GÉANT (GN3plus) project, a collaborative effort comprising 41 project partners: 38 European NRENs, DANTE, TERENA and NORDUnet (representing the five Nordic countries). GÉANT is operated by DANTE on behalf of Europe’s NRENs.