Initial connectivity is being provided to JISC, the UK organization for digital education and research services and solutions, which supports the Janet network, and to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, to provide connectivity to its data center in Budapest. The addition of Cloud Xpress enables GÉANT to extend its seamless GbE services to more European data centers with hyperscale density, operational simplicity, and low power consumption.
Together with its partners NREN, the pan-European GÉANT network connects more than 50 million users in 10,000 institutions across Europe, supporting scientific research and discovery in areas such as energy, the environment, space, and medicine. It has been a vital element of Europe's electronic infrastructure, providing the high-speed connectivity needed to share, access, and process the massive volumes of data essential for studying particle physics and bioinformatics, advancing medicine, or enabling artists on different continents to perform together in near real time.
With the Cloud Xpress, GÉANT leverages Infinera's unique integrated photonic circuit technology to support up to one terabit per second (Tb/s) of input and output capacity in just two rack units. Its small form factor and low power consumption allow the Cloud Xpress to deliver a 500 gigabit per second (Gb/s) WDM super channel with network-side bandwidth exceeding 150 kilometers (km) without the need for additional multiplexers or amplifiers, and up to 600 km with an amplified line system. The Cloud Xpress also enables efficient scalability with simple, open provisioning and interfaces for connecting to existing cloud provisioning systems via open Software-Defined Networking (SDN) APIs. Instant Bandwidth™ enables WDM bandwidth activation in 100 Gb/s increments through a few mouse clicks, allowing rapid scaling to meet ongoing customer demands.
“We wanted something that, integrated with the existing Infinera XTC network across Europe, would provide a cost-effective and scalable way to extend 100 GbE connectivity to more locations in Europe to meet the growing demands of our users while minimizing space requirements and power consumption. The quick and easy deployment of new services was also a key factor for us,” said Mark Johnston, Director of Network Operations at GÉANT. “Instant Bandwidth enables the rapid activation of new services to meet our customers’ evolving needs.”
"The GÉANT network is one of the most advanced research networks in the world," said Nick Walden, Senior Vice President of Sales EMEA at Infinera. "Cloud Xpress enables GÉANT to continue leveraging Infinera's Intelligent Transportation Networks to power its network – from NREN metro connectivity to the backbone."
Infinera introduced the Cloud Xpress family in 2014, offering a cloud-optimized WDM solution for cloud service providers, internet content providers, internet exchange service providers, and other large-scale data center operators. Infinera recently expanded the Cloud Xpress family by launching Cloud Xpress with 100 GbE, giving customers a choice of 10 GbE, 40 GbE, and 100 GbE client interfaces to meet their specific needs. The Infinera XT-500 complements Cloud Xpress to deliver extended data center connectivity, up to 4,000 km, with the same high density and low power consumption.
