Brussels, 29/02/2008 (Agence Europe) - GEANT, the world's largest multi-gigabit computer network dedicated to research and education, created in 2000, is to link up to similar networks world-wide to create a single global research network, the European Commission was pleased to state on Friday 29 February. In Europe, GEANT links some 30 million users in over 3,500 universities and research centres, and connects 34 national research networks. It has enabled ground-breaking research collaboration in fields such as climate change, radio astronomy and biotechnology to be set up. In the near future, high-speed links will be established to regional research network infrastructures emerging in the Balkans, the Black Sea and Mediterranean regions, as well as Asia, Southern Africa and Latin America. The Commission welcomed the fact that such progress will narrow the digital gap between developed and developing economies.
GEANT is an advanced pan-European backbone network connecting national research and education networks across Europe. It offers unrivalled geographical coverage, high bandwidth and innovative hybrid networking technology, allowing European academics and researchers high speed, private network connection to other research centres. The European Commission's current contribution to GEANT is funded by the 6th Framework Programme (2002-2006), amounting to €93 million over 58 months. The remainder is co-financed by the participating countries. The project's partners are the national networks for research and education, the TERENA association (Trans-European Research and Education Networking Association) and DANTE, which manages and exploits the GEANT network on behalf of the European national networks.
For further information see:
http: //ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemvalidation.cfm?item_id=3915 (I.L.)