European Research at Full Speed

Press Release

GÉANT, the pan-European research network, took a major step forward today with the signature of three milestone contracts for the provision of multi-Gigabit connectivity, which forms the heart of the new network. The contracts, signed by the co-ordinating partner of the project, Cambridge-based DANTE, on behalf of the consortium of European Research Networks from 27 European countries, are with COLT Telecom, Telia International Carrier and T- Systems

Cambridge, UK, 5 July 2001 - GÉANT is a project co-funded under the current EC Research and development program. It is a significant step forward in enabling Europe wide research co-operation, thus providing a very practical implementation of the policies defined in the Lisbon European Council.

Three major contractors will be providing 118 Gigabits out of the 120 of GÉANT, the new pan-European research network, which will be fully operational in November this year. The main activity of the GÉANT project, managed by a Consortium of 27 National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) with DANTE as its co-ordinating partner, the new network will provide networks services to the European research and education community in 31 countries, interconnecting over 3000 organisations at speeds of up to 10 Gigabits/sec.

A logical topology of the GÉANT network as it is planned today, showing the countries covered by each of these three major suppliers, is available online at geant/geant-logtop-jul01.gif.

For more information on GÉANT, please visit geant or contact:

Marine Chartois
External Relations Manager
press@dante.org.uk
Tel: +44 1223 302 992
Fax: +44 1223 303 005