SERENATE - An Overview

The success of GÉANT has given Europe a world-leading position in intra-regional research networking. As a consequence there is considerable focus on research networking in the European Union's Sixth Research and Development Framework Programme. In order to ensure the maintenance of this position, DANTE’s sister organisation TERENA led a strategic study called SERENATE about the future direction of research networking in Europe.

DANTE was actively involved in this study. We led the work examining future technology options, and worked together with CTI of Denmark on the study of the evolution of network economics and regulation. The study involved consultation with a variety of interest groups in Europe, with special emphasis on “End-Users”, and reported in 2003.

It is somewhat surprising that it took until 2002 for the first really strategic study of the future of research networking to be carried out. Between 1986 and 2000 there were significant developments in European research networking. They have, however, been gradual and organic in nature. A major obstacle to true pan-European co-operation was the uncompetitive and monopolistic state of the international communications market in Europe. Thus, whilst there were significant national developments in research networking in those countries in Europe where there were competitive national telecommunications markets, it was only with the liberalisation of international telecommunications in Europe, which really dates from 1999, that a truly European view of the issues and opportunities for European research networking has been possible.

The SERENATE study (Study into European Research and Education Networking As Targeted by eEurope) carried out a five-year view of the future direction of research networking in Europe. The study itself examined a number of major issues facing Research Networking in Europe; in particular it considered the following key issues

• The future technology directions that are appropriate, bearing in mind that a basic rationale for research networking is that it should embrace the most advanced technology available. A major element of the study was an investigation into the likely future directions of the routing, switching and transmission technologies which are the major building blocks for networks.
  
  
• The development of the telecommunications market in Europe. Networks can only be created from the building blocks available. Liberalisation of the telecommunications markets in Europe had a significant effect in making available advanced technology, but the effects of liberalisation have been patchy and a “digital divide” has emerged between the competitive and less competitive regions.
  
  
• Regulation. The European Union is creating a much more uniform and liberal regime for the provision of telecommunications services. The national implementation of this regime is today incomplete and informal obstacles remain that hamper the development of research networking.
  
  
• The requirements of users. As research networking develops to offer new and high performance service to users, so it becomes increasingly important to understand the various requirements of the different groups of users, to ensure that their future needs can be met.
  
  
• National issues. Historically, the pan-European capability has been the weakest element of European research networking. As liberalisation has removed much of this bottleneck the need to look more closely at national and campus capabilities has become much more urgent. In addition the question of which groups of users NRENs should support and the problems faced by smaller countries in organising NREN services have been addressed.

The SERENATE study was led by TERENA. Active co-operation has come from DANTE (on technical economic and market issues), CTI (on regulatory and economic issues), Academia Europaea and The European Science Foundation (on user needs and strategic research policy questions), in addition to individual contributions from interested NRENs.  Further details of the SERENATE project are available at the link alongside.