Finland's Funet trials 100-Gbps technology

Finland’s state-owned CSC — IT Center for Science Ltd. says it has successfully tested 100-Gbps line speeds on the country’s Finnish University and Research Network (Funet). The trial ran between Espoo and Oulu, a distance of approximately 1000 km, and was conducted in November 2012.

Nokia Siemens Networks and Ekinops provided the 100-Gbps optical transport technology used in the trial, which also included routers from Juniper Networks. The optical transmission connections used Nokia Siemens Networks’ 1+1 backup via two light paths.

“With the new channel capacity, the Funet Network can transmit data at a speed of 4 Tbps per one link connection. Funet member organizations can use the 100-Gbps services by means of a light path. CSC is also preparing to gradually update the Funet IP Network for the speed of 100 gigabits. The service will probably be first used in the data infrastructures of international research projects,” explains Juha Oinonen, development manager at CSC.

“K&K Active Oy and Ekinops are proud to be able to take part in the tests and assist CSC in its work to update its network for future needs. K&K has supplied Ekinops DWDM systems for data center and transport network environments for many years. However, this is the first time when we are able to test our 100-Gbps product in a real production environment in Finland. Our belief is that 100-Gbps connections will already be in use in Finland in 2013,’ says Harri Räty, product area manager at K&K Active Oy.

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