SEEFIRE - Overview
SEEFIRE (South-East Europe Fibre Infrastructure for Research and Education) was a special support action co-funded by the European Commission’s sixth Framework Programme. The project’s ultimate aim was to address the digital divide that affects many countries in southern and eastern Europe.
SEEFIRE built on the results of IST projects such as SEEREN and SERENATE. These projects built a substantial knowledge base about the state of network infrastructure in the region, and about potential methods to reduce the digital divide that still exists in Europe.
The project supported SEEREN2 by exploring, and producing studies on, the options available for network infrastructure for the development of research and education networking in southeast Europe.
SEEFIRE identified benchmarks for existing and potentially available optical fibre for national research and education networks (NRENs) in the region. It analysed the technical options available for the deployment of dark fibre and the management of optical transmission by NRENs in the region. In doing so, it provided NRENs in the region with the tools and knowledge to seek access to dark fibre, thereby significantly improving chances for long-term sustainability.
SEEFIRE:
- Established benchmarks of existing and potentially available optical fibre for NRENs in the region
- Analysed the technical options available for the deployment of dark fibre and the management of optical transmission by NRENs in the region
- Reported on economic aspects and regulations
- Disseminated information and increased awareness about dark-fibre deployment at both technical and policy-making levels.
DANTE was a partner in the SEEFIRE project, providing specific advice on network procurement and financing; DANTE was also a member of the SEEFIRE steering committee.
