Gà‰ANT Deploys Infinera Cloud Xpress
Infinera, a maker of InP photonic integrated circuits (PICs) and network equipment, has announced that Gà‰ANT, Europe's leading collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for research and education (R&E), and operator of the pan-European R&E network that interconnects Europe's National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), has deployed the Infinera Cloud Xpress to extend their 100 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) network connectivity into datacentres.
Initial connectivity is being provided to Jisc, the UK organisation for education and research digital services and solutions, which enables the Janet network, and CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, to deliver connectivity to their datacentre in Budapest. The addition of the Cloud Xpress allows Gà‰ANT to extend GbE services into more European datacentres.
Together with its NREN partners, the Gà‰ANT pan-European network connects over 50 million users at 10,000 institutions across Europe, supporting scientific research and discovery in areas such as energy, the environment, space and medicine.
It has been a vital element of Europe's e-infrastructure, providing the high speed connectivity needed to share, access and process the massive volumes of data essential to the study of particle physics and bio-informatics, the advancement of medicine, or enabling arts performers in different continents to perform together in near real-time.
Cloud Xpress 100 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) uses Infinera's PIC technology to support up to one terabit per second (Tb/s) of input and output capacity in two rack units. It delivers 500 Gb/s super-channel of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) line-side capacity over 150 kilometers (km) without any need for additional multiplexers or amplifiers and up to 600 km with an amplified line system. Cloud Xpress also enables efficient scaling with simple provisioning and open interfaces to plug into existing cloud provisioning systems using open software defined networking (SDN) application programming interfaces (APIs). Instant Bandwidth allows the activation of WDM bandwidth in 100 Gb/s increments via a few clicks of a mouse enabling rapid scale to meet continued customer demands.
"We wanted something that integrated with our existing Infinera XTC footprint across Europe to provide a scalable, cost effective way to extend 100 GbE connectivity into more locations across Europe to meet the growing demands of our users while minimising the need for space and power. Rapid and easy provision of new services was also a critical factor for us," said Mark Johnston, chief network operations officer at Gà‰ANT. "Instant Bandwidth allows the rapid activation of new services to meet the evolving requirements of our users."
"The Gà‰ANT network is one of the most advanced research networks in the world," said Nick Walden, senior vice president, EMEA Sales at Infinera. "Cloud Xpress allows Gà‰ANT to continue to leverage Infinera's Intelligent Transport Networks to power its network - from the metro NREN connectivity to the backbone."
