Americas

North America

The North American research networking environment is more diverse than in Europe, with research networking connectivity provided by CANARIE in Canada, and four main research and education networks in the USA:

• ESnet, a government agency network that exists to support the science mission of the US Office of Science, within the Department of Energy
• Abilene, run by Internet2, a consortium led by more than 200 universities, working in partnership with industry and government
• National Lambda Rail, an alternative pan-USA network
• The NASA Research and Engineering Network's Wide Area Network (NREN WAN), a nationwide high-performance network platform which provides connectivity and a research platform for selected NASA centres. 

Inside the Large Hadron Collider tunnel at CERN There is a long–standing relationship between pan-European research networking and North American research networks. The connections to North America are key in enabling research collaboration on intercontinental projects, and will become even more significant with the switching on of the large hadron collider (LHC) at CERN in 2007, a number of the data-processing centres for which are located in North America.

GÉANT2 is also working closely with these North American networks to share best practice and exchange research findings, working towards establishing common approaches to operational and service policies to enable a seamlessly interoperable experience.

Latin America

DANTE first became involved in Latin America through the CAESAR (Connecting All European and South American Researchers) feasibility study, conducted during 2002, which preceded the ALICE project.

The ALICE (America Latina Interconectada Con Europa) project was set up in 2003 to develop the RedCLARA network, which provides IP research network infrastructure within the Latin American region and towards Europe. ALICE has made a profound difference to researchers in Latin America by stimulating the development of research networking in the continent, and providing reliable, high-speed connectivity to Europe for the first time.