CENIC Recognizes Internet2 as Outstanding Partner in Research and Education Networking

In recognition of the growing, innovative collaboration between Internet2 and CENIC on numerous projects to renew, enrich, and extend the advanced research and education (R&E) network ecology, nationally and internationally, Internet2 has been awarded the CENIC 2018 Innovations in Networking Award for R&E Network Partner.

In October 2017, CENIC, Internet2, and the Pacific Northwest Gigapop (PNWGP) renewed their collaboration to provide networking capabilities across the entire West Coast of the United States, and to continue developing new network capabilities. Using CENIC and PNWGP fiber-optic cable and Internet2’s Ciena optical system, this shared infrastructure supports the West Coast portion of Internet2’s nationwide backbone network. The infrastructure also supports Internet2’s and CENIC’s mutual collaborators at the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), as well as other CENIC and PNWGP networks and network initiatives, including the West Coast backbone of the Pacific Wave International Exchange and the underlying infrastructure for significant portions of the core of the National Science Foundation-funded Pacific Research Platform (PRP).

“Science researchers depend heavily on high-speed access to large datasets, remote scientific instruments, multi-institutional collaborations, and computational resources,” CENIC President and CEO Louis Fox said. “This significant collaboration with Internet2 enables network interconnection and transit capabilities for our US and international research partners to achieve the performance and service capabilities they require.”

In a new initiative announced at the CENIC 2018 Conference, Internet2 and CENIC have also agreed to pilot more direct integration of their respective global programs along with three U.S. international exchanges: the Pacific Wave, a collaboration of CENIC and PNWGP; the New York Manhattan Landing (MAN LAN), a collaboration of Internet2 and NYSERnet (New York State Education and Research Network); and the Washington International Exchange (WIX), a collaboration of Internet2 and the Mid-Atlantic Crossroads (MAX).

This pilot program aims to further collaboration efforts that mutually support R&E partnerships both nationally and globally by improving domestic exchange point operations coordination, and providing a model for future enhancements to the domestic infrastructure that supports global collaboration. Specific projects will include dedicated interconnection between the Pacific Wave, MAN LAN, and WIX as well as deeper collaboration among the CENIC and Internet2 teams that engage with global partners.

“Research and education networks can no longer succeed as ‘island networks’ simply connected by high-bandwidth links,” said David Reese, CENIC’s Vice President and Managing Director of Pacific Wave. “In order to succeed today, R&E networks need to collaborate and build upon each other’s success. Working together and integrating their international exchanges and programs, and as contributors to the Global Network Architecture (GNA) consortium, CENIC and Internet2 are joining a global effort to help shape the standards for how international exchanges will operate and share connectivity around the world.”

Another example of CENIC and Internet2’s ongoing collaboration is the Western Regional Network (WRN). This multi-state partnership provides advanced, robust high-speed networking for research-related uses. Other collaborators are PNWGP in Washington, the Front Range GigaPop (FRGP) in Colorado and Wyoming, the University of New Mexico on behalf of the State of New Mexico, and the University of Hawai’i. WRN serves Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming and has a terminus and point-of-presence at StarLight in Chicago. The WRN partnership is built significantly on optical channels provisioned on Internet2’s infrastructure, and the CENIC community, particularly climate and atmospheric researchers, are highly dependent on this infrastructure to reach important resources like the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and related supercomputing facilities. Currently, more than 325 climate and atmosphere researchers and 950 projects at California research institutions rely on this network.

“Internet2 is deeply honored to receive this award and to have the opportunity to further our collaboration with CENIC in stronger ways and for many years to come in support of research and education communities in the US and beyond,” said Howard Pfeffer, Internet2 President and CEO. “As a recognized global leader in R&E networking, CENIC has consistently brought forward some of the most innovative and effective programs that help researchers and educators excel. The partnerships we have built show great promise for even deeper collaborations between our teams in the future and we are excited to explore new opportunities together.”

 

 

 

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