International Research Networking in Europe

Optical networking and GÉANT2 GÉANT2 and its predecessors have been a driving force in research networking within Europe. The pan-European backbone projects have a track record of supporting countries that are seeking wider recognition within Europe by connecting them at a very early stage in their economic development. At the time of their accession in 2004, the GÉANT network already connected all ten of the first wave of Eastern European "candidate countries" for membership of the European Union. GÉANT2 provides international connectivity between 34 countries within Europe, in addition to the intercontinental connectivity it is establishing to other world regions.

Although the Digital Divide within Europe still exists, GEANT2 is reaching out to less developed regions. The project has long been a supporter of the South East European Research and Education Network (SEEREN). In 2004, this support crucially took the form of assuming responsibility for SEEREN’s connectivity contracts during the months in between the official end of SEEREN and the start of SEEEREN2, in order to ensure that connectivity within the region remained uninterrupted. Now that SEEREN2 is up and running, GEANT2 is maintaining its close links with the project. More than half of SEEREN2’s partners are also partners in GEANT2. More information on SEEREN2 can be found via the link in the left-hand menu.

The GÉANT2 project includes two strands of activity dedicated to exploring the potential for ever greater improvements and wider connections within Europe. Its NREN Development and Support package is conducting several country needs studies per year, examining the state of research networking in nations not currently connected to GÉANT2 and exploring the possibility of providing greater support. In addition, the EARNEST foresight study, which began in 2006 and is the successor to the SERENATE study that was conducted as part of GÉANT, is looking at the wider context of research and education networking in Europe. More information on these initiatives can be found via the link on the right-hand side.