Press Release: Commission to speed up Europe’s world-leading networking infrastructure for scientists and students

From 14 June 2005 onwards, GÉANT2, Europe's world-class research networking infrastructure, was to use pulsed light (photons), rather than electrons, to carry huge volumes of research data faster than ever before. Dark fibre-optic cables offering a performance of up to 320 Gigabit per second are lit to process data for advanced applications such as high-energy physics experiments or to connect radio telescopes worldwide. Europe's research network was thereby to supply unprecedented computing power to an estimated 3 million users from over 3 500 academic institutions in 34 countries across Europe. Compared with similar research networks in the US or in Asia, GÉANT2 innovates by seamlessly combining dark fibre with more traditional broadband technology, notably to supply research networking services to schools, via its partner networks.

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http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/205&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/05/205&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Website: GEANT2 http://www.geant2.net/

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