Internet2, in a joint effort with CANARIE, the Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), and GÉANT, announced a major expansion of 400 gigabits per second (Gbps) transoceanic circuit capacity dedicated to transferring research and education (R&E) data. As part of the Advanced North Atlantic (ANA) collaboration, this marks a significant achievement in high-speed connectivity between North America and Europe, supporting data-intensive science globally.
"We are thrilled to be part of this momentous undertaking alongside our partners Internet2, ESnet, and GÉANT," said Mark Wolff, Chief Technology Officer at CANARIE. "This advancement in trans-Atlantic high-speed connectivity will enable researchers and students in Canada to contribute to, and benefit from, global scientific discoveries and is truly a testament to the collaborative ethos of the global research and education networking community."
ANA's network expansion supports multinational, data-intensive science collaborations, including the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the world's largest and most powerful particle accelerator, and the Square Kilometer Array (SKA), the ongoing effort to build the world's largest radio astronomy observatory. It adds much-needed capacity for transmitting instrument findings to researchers globally, enabling ground-breaking discoveries.
The joint effort adds three 400 Gbps spectrum circuits between exchange points in the US, UK, and France. The new connections utilize the record-breaking 400 terabits per second (Tbps) trans-Atlantic Amitié subsea cable system, which was completed in July 2023 and spans 6,783 kilometers (4,215 miles). The adaptability and scalability of these spectrum circuits allows for substantial capacity expansion using existing infrastructure. This can be accomplished through potential future upgrades to the equipment at exchange points.
Through the addition of the new circuits, the combined capacity of the ANA collaboration's trans-Atlantic network is now 2.4 Tbps.
"Being among the first to deliver spectrum-based 400 Gbps transoceanic connections dedicated to research and education is a truly pioneering achievement," said James Deaton, VP of Network Services at Internet2. "Internet2 is proud to collaborate with CANARIE, ESnet, and GÉANT to reach this significant milestone for resilient and robust global connectivity, and we are excited by the possibilities created collectively to accelerate scientific discovery across continents and around the world."
International Collaboration for Intercontinental Connectivity
ESnet is set to manage two 400 Gbps transoceanic circuits to support US Department of Energy national laboratories, supercomputing facilities, significant scientific instruments, and global partners. This will increase its total 400 Gbps transoceanic circuits to three. Internet2 will operate one circuit for members of the US R&E community, as well as its North American partner, CANARIE.
To support these new connections and other emerging capacity needs for data-intensive science in the US and internationally, Internet2 recently bolstered its global exchange points on the East Coast—including the addition of a new 400 Gbps exchange point in Boston, MA. Internet2 also augmented two existing exchange points with 400 Gbps switching capacity: the Manhattan Landing (MAN-LAN) in New York, and the Washington International Exchange (WIX) in McLean, VA. Following the project's completion, Internet2 will be among the first R&E networks to operate 400 Gbps global exchange points.
GÉANT is facilitating connectivity from the endpoints of the Amitié cable systems in the UK and France. This connectivity enables the transmission of trans-Atlantic traffic to the London, Geneva, and Paris points of presence on its extensive pan-European network backbone. Looking ahead, GÉANT is also planning to further reinforce the ANA collaboration's capacity by upgrading its trans-Atlantic connectivity via the GN5-IC1 project, in response to the rapidly growing needs of data-intensive research collaborations between Europe and North America.
"As the world region with which GÉANT exchanges the most international R&E traffic, the R&E networks in the US and Canada stand as key strategic partners for GÉANT. This long-standing collaboration is a fundamental element in the fabric of global research," said Paul Rouse, Chief Community Relations Officer at GÉANT. "GÉANT welcomes this historical milestone as a key step into the next generation of trans-Atlantic connectivity. We are proud of this contribution and look forward to further contributing to the ANA collaboration."
