Eesti teaduse infrastruktuuride teekaart - ETIS

BACKBONE NETWORK E-INFRASTRUKTUURID | E-INFRASTRUCTURES 63ESTONIAN RESEARCH AND EDUCATIONOPTICAL BACKBONE NETWORKEENet is a significantly faster Optical Backbone Network, which ensures the functioningof the academic network and its compatibility with new innovative projects. For this,EENet develops and operates an easily extensible backbone network based on an opticalcarrier, whereby a suite of advanced services will be offered to meet the increasinglydemanding requirements of the research and education community in Estonia.The optical infrastructure guarantees high bandwidth andextensibility of the data communications network, providingthe most advanced facilities and services to meet theneeds of the education and academic community. This newinfrastructure ensures high-quality access to modern datacommunications for all Estonian research institutions regardlessof their geographical location.EXISTINGINFRASTRUCTUREThe backbone network developed by EENet is connected tothe European academic network GÉANT (Gigabit EuropeanAdvanced Network Technology) and covers most of Estoniancounties. Schools and other educational, research andcultural institutions have been connected to county centres.The optical backbone is in operation between Tallinn, Tartuand several county centres and can be used by researchinstitutions, universities, educational and cultural institutions.Currently more than 1000 institutions in Estonia are usingone or several services of EENet.NEW INFRASTRUCTUREIn order to provide the Estonian research and educationcommunity with a significantly faster, more reliable and easilyextensible backbone, the newly developed network willbe based entirely on a fiber-optic infrastructure. Increasedreliability of the network will be achieved by implementingsimpler equipment and backup connections; at least two alternativeroutes will be in operation for all essential segmentsof the backbone. It is important that the bandwidth of theoptical backbone can be expanded and new services added ina relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated way, thereby notincreasing the fixed costs of network operation. On the basisof this infrastructure it will be possible to create specific solutionsfor data communications for both research institutionsand international collaboration projects within the GÉANTnetwork. Using optical cross-border connections, the plannedoptical backbone will enable closer research cooperationbetween the Baltic and Nordic countries.PARTNERSHIPSEENet participates in the GÉANT network project that connects32 European national research and education networksin 36 countries. GÉANT connects over 8000 Europeanresearch and educational institutions with the high-speedbackbone and provides connectivity to the global Internet.International organizations DANTE (Delivery of AdvancedNetwork Technology to Europe) and TERENA (Trans-EuropeanResearch and Education Networking Association) arealso partners in the project.http://www.eenet.ee/EENet/magistraalvork.html