05/10/2004

The upgrading of the National Network for Research and Technology (GRNET) to GRNET2 introduces a new digital era for the Greek research and educational community. GRNET, the first national backbone network or the "Greek highway for research and education", links the research and educational institutes of the country with their European counterparts via GEANT, the European research network.

Carried out by the Greek Research & Technology Network and co-financed by the Information Society Operational Programme and the European Community initiative e-Europe2005, GRNET 2 implements the policies of the General Secretariat for Research and Technology and the Ministry of Development.

It has been designed to support multiple technology advanced services such as real time multimedia distribution, Grid services, connectivity services based on IPv6 protocol, etc. The principal aim of GRNET2 is the creation of an innovative data transferring network, which can successfully fulfil the ever-increasing ongoing needs of organisations and end-users.

The first phase of GRNET2's operation started in July 2002 with the implementation of the Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) in Athens, comprising three central network nodes of 2,5 Gbps. Thirteen academic and research institutes have already a 1 Gbps connection to MAN. The advanced network exceeded GRNET's network nodes in continental Greece and Crete (Salonica, Patras, Ioannina, Larissa, Heraklion, Chania and Rethymno). During the next phase of the programme, the regions of Thrace and the Aegean are also expected to be connected.

Following the development of ICT infrastructure at European level, in June 2004 GRNET2 was connected to the European advanced broadband network (GEANT) via two lines of 2,5 Gbps. The Greek Research & Technology Network participates with the rest of the research and educational community of Europe in the GN2 project, which aims to upgrade GEANT and to create an advanced network infrastructure for all European National Research and Education Networks (NRENs).

Source: GRNET