April 21, 2023

Internet2 International Activities

Heather BoylesDirector, International Relations, Internet2Internet2 Industry Strategy Council Meeting

NSF International Connections

High Performance International Internet Services (HPIIS)

• Original solicitation (RFP) 1997• Funded three connections projects

–TransPAC – Asia (Indiana University)–EuroLink – Europe (France, Israel, Nordic countries,

Netherlands) (University of Illinois Chicago) –MIRnet – Russia (University of Tennessee, later NCSA)

• To connect to STAR TAP (Chicago) –Also funded by NSF

New NSF International connections program

NSF International Research Network Connections (IRNC) solicitation released March 9, 2004

NSF Shared Cyber Infrastructure (SCI) division

• Within CISE (Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering)

Proposals due June 7, 2004• To support network connections linking US research

networks with peer networks in other parts of the world• In support of science and engineering research and

education applications

Program emphases

Economies of scale; linking largest communities of interest with broadest services

Reliable, leading-edge service for research and education

• Contemplates possibility that infrastructure could also provide for experiments that prototype next generation services, but doesn’t require

Rational global network architecture; sharing of circuits, encouragement of national/regional build-out

The right approach

Given limited resources and solicitation’s focus on broadest possible reach…….

A coordinated response from the community• Avoid individual, competing efforts that fragment available

resources• Greater leverage of outside resources

– Key partners outside US are interested in working with US as a single entity, not competing institutions

• Move away from point to point connections and toward global infrastructure

• Provide seamless performance for science community

Internet2 Role

Catalyst for coordinated response

Bring to table Internet2 member institutions with resources, capabilities

Corporate relationships

US domestic infrastructure

International relationships

Internet2 coordinated community efforts in performance, security, middleware, discipline community engagement

StrategyForm coalition of partners from Internet2 community

• Indiana University and Internet2 are on board• Key additional partners we are working on:

– Pacific Northwest Gigapop (UW)– CENIC– U. Hawaii– StarLight (Tom DeFanti)– GLORIAD project– Florida International University– IEEAF– Others (NYSERNET, discipline communities: Harvey Newman, MIT

Haystack, Gemini Observatory)

Single proposal covering connectivity to Europe, Asia/Oceania, Latin America and beyond

Key non-US partners

Europe: GEANT consortium

Asia: APAN with APAN-Japan (MPHPT – Communications Research Laboratory)

• Australia/AARNET connections• CERNET/CSTNET in China/Hong Kong• Singapore?

Latin America: CLARA consortium

Latin America

Latin America: CLARA backbone network• Initially Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile with Venezuela,

possibly Panama• Ecuador, Cost Rica, Uruguay, Colombia 2nd wave

Focus on:• Dark fiber across border between San Diego and Tijuana (to

CUDI/CLARA pop) – CENIC to play major role in facilitating• Connection from US (Miami, New York) to CLARA node on

South American continent (Sao Paulo, Santiago) – FIU could play key role with exchange point facility in Miami; and continuing Global Crossing donations to AMPATH

Asia-Pacific Connections

No regional “backbone network”• Connection to APAN Tokyo XP and beyond (Hong Kong,

Singapore)• Leverage Australian connections to US West Coast via

Hawaii

Key US partner roles• Indiana University – relationship with Japanese funding

source• Pacific Wave (Pacific NorthWest Gigapop and CENIC)

infrastructure – Land connections from Australia and to Tokyo and beyond

• U. Hawaii facilitating connections in Hawaii– Japan link?– Astronomy importance

Europe and beyond

GEANT• European Commission and National Research Network

funded (31+ countries)

Key to ‘global approach’• GEANT connectivity to Mediterranean, South Eastern

Europe, Russia, Southeastern Asia, Latin America• Willing to partner together to leverage each others’ facilities,

resources• Share trans-oceanic (both Atlantic and Pacific) capacities• Key to reaching South Africa? India possibly

Status/Progress

In process of getting key US/Internet2 member partners on board

• Indiana University on board• NYSERNET on board• Discussions this weekend and next week to see if we can

get other key members on board

Key non-US partners are on boardDiscussions with carriers to understand circuit costing issues; build a set of alternatives based on funds available

Beginning proposal-writing process

Risks, Challenges

Single proposal to NSF presents issues• Size of award • Expectation of 3-6 proposals

Possible that we will not be able to get all key US partners on board

Competing proposals are likely – although probably not on this scale

Conclusion

The NSF program is a key opportunityAt the same time, the coordination effort needs to extend beyond this particular opportunity

• If we can create a framework of global interconnectivity, can leverage other resources

– Outside US– Within US: other government agencies: DOE/ESnet

Internet2 is well-positioned to play critical role in coordinating these efforts on behalf of US, in partnership with NSF and others

Will rely on gaining partnership of key US community members