SURF.net news

Tag: International Connectivity

  • Lessons from APAN61 in Dhaka

    Lessons from APAN61 in Dhaka

    Last week, Alexander and I traveled to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for APAN61 (APAN stands for Asia-Pacific Advanced Network). These types of conferences are often viewed from a technical standards and backbone capacity perspective, but our time in Dhaka proved that the most critical infrastructure we build isn’t made of fiber—it’s made of people.

    A Federated Foundation for Global Science

    I was invited by APAN to deliver a keynote titled “Staying Connected: A Federated, Open Foundation for Global Research & Education Collaboration.” Giving a keynote was exciting for me – in a good way – and a personal milestone. But the real value lay in the message: how we, as a global community, can ensure that research and education aren’t siloed by geography, geopolitics, or other obstacles. For that purpose, addressing both the why and the how of the need for a federated global infrastructure. And it was a reminder that our work within NRENs (both at SURF and abroad) feeds into a much larger, global engine of collaboration and progress for Science & Education. 

    Besides the keynote, I also gave an additional presentation representing SURF in a Special Interest Group (SIG) on Science Engagement. At SURF, we often talk about science engagement and how to improve our efforts in that respect but seeing it in practice and discussing with other NRENs how they do it during APAN was very stimulating and useful. 

    Specific Takeaways from the Field

    Beyond the podium, four specific observations stood out to me:

    • Infrastructure in Practice: The Bangladesh Research & Education Network (BdREN) has successfully implemented eduroam in all national airports. Coming from the Netherlands, seeing this level of user-focused service in action was impressive. It’s a standard of accessibility we should all be aiming for. Schiphol & Nationale Spoorwegen, bring it on! 
    • High-Level Science Engagement: I spent time with researchers in oncology and molecular biology. The sophistication of their work is a clear signal: they are driving serious scientific inquiry that requires the kind of international research network connectivity we provide. 
    • Logistical Excellence: Organizing a conference of this scale in a city as complex as Dhaka—a metropolis of over 25 million people—is a massive undertaking. To put it in perspective: the population density there is nearly ten times that of Amsterdam. Moving dozens of international guests through that kind of environment requires serious planning. The hospitality and flawless execution by the BdREN team really showcased the professionalism and dedication of our partner NRENs in the region.
    • The “8th Layer” of the OSI Model: Some of you know that when it comes to networking, I’m a Layer 0-3 kinda girl—they don’t call me the “Dark Fiber Lady” for nothing —but this week was all about the human 8th layer. Whether it was reconnecting with old friends & partners, establishing new partnerships & perspectives on future collaboration, or learning about local history like the Shaheed Minar, these face-to-face meetings are what make the global R&E collaboration possible.

    Looking Ahead

    Collaborating with the Asia-Pacific region isn’t just a “nice-to-have” for SURF; it is essential for a functional and resilient global research ecosystem. We’re bringing back more than just notes—we’re bringing back renewed partnerships, connectivity to enable global research opportunities for our SURF members, and a fresh perspective on what it means to be a partner in this international community.

    A special thanks to Mohammad Tawrit and the entire BdREN team for their hospitality and for showing us the future of R&E in Asia.

    With Oncologists & Molecular Biologists in Dhaka

  • Highlights from Internet2 TechEx 2025

    Highlights from Internet2 TechEx 2025

    At Internet2 TechEx 2025, global developments in research and education (R&E) network infrastructure were high on the agenda. In a well-attended update, Brenna Meade (International Networks, Indiana University) shared an overview of key steps being taken worldwide to scale capacity, resilience, and automation in federated network services.

    Major capacity upgrades, including transoceanic links

    Meade outlined a broad range of ongoing and planned upgrades across international backbone and exchange infrastructures. This included new 400 Gbps transoceanic links—critical for data-intensive research and collaboration across continents. She also highlighted activity and continued evolution across multiple Global Exchange Points (GXPs), including FUJI-XP, SOE, GOREX, MANLAN, MOXY, NetherLight, and Pacific Wave. Together, these hubs form an important foundation for high-performance global connectivity between R&E networks.

    NSI reaches production readiness

    A key milestone highlighted in the session: NSI (Network Service Interface) has reached production readiness. NSI enables interoperable, automated service provisioning across network domains. In practice, this supports standardized ways for organizations and networks to request, set up, and manage end-to-end services across multiple administrative boundaries.

    For NRENs, this aligns closely with the push toward scalable, federated connectivity: less manual coordination, faster delivery of services, and more reusable interfaces and operational agreements between domains. Reaching production readiness is therefore a concrete step toward more automated and dependable international network service ecosystems.

    Technology—and the community behind it

    Beyond the technical program, TechEx continues to stand out as a strong community meeting point. Informal conversations between sessions, sharing experiences across very different operating contexts, and social traditions such as the 5K fun run all reinforce the trust and relationships that are essential to building and operating resilient infrastructure.

    In summary: TechEx 2025 underscored how global R&E networks are moving forward on both capacity and automation—with NSI marking a notable step toward interoperable, federated service delivery.

    Screenshot
  • SURF at the 6th Global Research Platform: Building the Future of International Research Networking

    SURF at the 6th Global Research Platform: Building the Future of International Research Networking

    Chicago, September – At the 6th Global Research Platform (GRP), SURF joined peers from around the world to share progress, exchange insights, and strengthen collaboration in global research networking.

    In my presentation, I highlighted SURF’s next steps:

    • Updates on SURFnet Infinity and NetherLight
    • Terabit trials with CERN and the LUMI supercomputer
    • Explorations in quantum-secure networking and fiber sensing

    A recurring theme at GRP was the importance of the federated approach: each NREN serves its own members, but together we form a global infrastructure that supports research at scale. This balance of local autonomy and international collaboration is vital to the community’s success.

    Many thanks to Joe Mambretti, Maxine Brown, and the GRP community for fostering an open, collaborative environment. SURF looks forward to continuing this work and helping shape the future of international research & education networking.

  • SURF and Nikhef complete test with Ciena’s WaveLogic technology showing multiple 1 Terabit paths for scientific research between Amsterdam and Geneva

    SURF and Nikhef complete test with Ciena’s WaveLogic technology showing multiple 1 Terabit paths for scientific research between Amsterdam and Geneva

    SURF, Nikhef and Ciena have successfully tested multiple 1 Tbps paths over fiber between SURF and Nikhef in Amsterdam and CERN in Geneva. The test, powered by Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme, shows that technological innovations can significantly improve the bandwidth of existing infrastructure.

    A similar development was seen earlier in connections over copper. Where initially only 2,4 kilobits per second was achievable over a classical phone connection, enhanced coding techniques brought this to 50 megabits (VDSL) per second over the same infrastructure. We are seeing the same trend in fiber technology.

    For SURF, this increase in capacity is of great importance. The scientists that SURF supports are able to measure ever more accurately, which leads to explosive growth in the amount of measurement data that SURF has to transport. An example of this is the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, which will be upgraded to much higher precision in the coming years (https://home.cern/science/accelerators/high-luminosity-lhc). 

    SURF and Nikhef together operate a  Tier-1 site for storage and processing of this LHC measurement data. For this purpose, a special 1648 km long fiber path has been established between Geneva and Amsterdam. This trajectory will need to transport much more data in the near future. However, this path also presents a technical challenge due to its long distance, age, fiber type, and the number of small spans that make up this trajectory.

    Vendors of optical equipment continuously come up with improvements for fiber connections like their colleagues did for copper lines in the past. To see what is possible with the most modern optical equipment, SURF and Nikhef therefore regularly conduct trials with these suppliers. In March 2025, we conducted a trial with Ciena over our existing Amsterdam-Geneva connection. In this trial we were able to achieve speeds exceeding 1 Terabit per second over this challenging fiber path. We thank Ciena for the opportunity to do these tests and for its support. These results give us sufficient insights to be sure that at the technical level we can transport the upcoming LHC-data explosion to SURF and Nikhef in Amsterdam.

  • Successful trial: 1.2 Tbit/s data transfer to prepare long-haul network for AI and supercomputing

    Successful trial: 1.2 Tbit/s data transfer to prepare long-haul network for AI and supercomputing

    CSC, SURF, and Nokia have successfully tested a high-capacity, quantum-safe fibre-optic connection exceeding 1.2 terabit per second (Tbit/s) between Amsterdam and Kajaani (Finland) with data traversing over 3.500 kilometres. The trial demonstrated the potential of ultra-fast, cross-border connectivity for research.

    Tests were carried out along several routes, including the longest, which spanned 4,700 km through Norway at a capacity of 1Tbit/s. To put this in perspective, 1 Tbit/s is enough to stream 200,000 full HD movies (at 5 Mbit/s each) simultaneously.  

    These results are particularly promising as the research community prepares for supercomputers and AI Factories to come online – where reliable, scalable, and secure connections will be critical to supporting some of the world’s largest datasets and most demanding workloads.

    The test used a combination of real research data and synthetic data, transferred directly from disk to disk – from SURF’s facility in Amsterdam to CSC’s data center in Kajaani, across five production research and education networks: SURF (the Netherlands), NORDUnet (Nordic backbone), Sunet (Sweden), SIKT (Norway) and Funet (CSC’s network in Finland). 

    The network solution was based on Nokia’s IP/MPLS routing and quantum-safe optical networking gear. Nokia’s IP technology successfully demonstrated Flexible Ethernet (FlexE) to accommodate “elephant flows”, or very large continuous flows of data, and its high-capacity optical transport technology showed the ability to handle massive data sets generated by HPCs over long distances. 

    Distance between supercomputing centers is no obstacle

    With the exponential growth of research data, especially for training large-scale AI models, the need for resilient, high-throughput and secure connectivity is more critical than ever. This test confirms that multi-domain, high-capacity data transfers across European research networks are both feasible and future-ready. Testing an operational network connection over long distances provides unique insights into data transport and storage of large data volumes. The tests are crucial for improving the infrastructure for data-intensive research.  

    “We design research networks with future needs in mind,” said Jani Myyry, Senior Network Specialist at CSC. “CSC’s datacenter in Kajaani already hosts the pan-European LUMI supercomputer, and with the upcoming LUMI-AI supercomputer and AI Factory coming online, reliable and scalable data connections throughout Europe are essential. Even though the geographical distance is significant, it poses no obstacle to data traffic.” 

    Ready to take the next step in aligning European supercomputers

    “As SURF, we are ready to take the next step in aligning European supercomputers,” said Arno Bakker, Senior Network Specialist at SURF. “These efforts offer future perspectives to train federated LLM as OpenEuroLLM

    on LUMI and Snellius or for a researcher to compute on LUMI with very large datasets hosted at SURF, such as the KNMI (The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) datasets.” 

    “This test would not have been possible without the support of NIKHEF, the Dutch national institute for subatomic physics. Their experience in handling huge amounts of physics measurement data and available hardware ensures that these kinds of tests can be done successfully. In addition, Bakker says we are very grateful to our Scandinavian partners for their help setting up this trail connection. This is again an example of the continued good cooperation between NRENs to create the best possible international infrastructure for research and education.”

    “Groundbreaking trials like this highlight how advanced networks are foundational to unlocking the full potential of AI and high-performance computing,” said Mikhail Lenko,Customer Solutions Architect for Nokia. “This successful collaboration with CSC and SURF is a testament to the innovation and leadership of the scientific community, and to what’s possible when we work together.”

    “As the network prepares for the next wave of supercomputers and AI Factories, we are proud to deliver the quantum-safe, high-capacity, and resilient IP/MPLS and optical infrastructure that makes these systems viable. We look forward to continuing our support for global research and education networks, helping them scale with confidence and drive the next generation of discovery and innovation.”

  • Towards a European Time & Frequency Network

    Towards a European Time & Frequency Network

    Introduction

    Last month, GÉANT organized a physical edition of the Special Interest Group Time & Frequency Network (SIG-TFN) at the Joint Science Centre (a research and advisory body of the European Commission). During this event in Italy, NRENs and NMIs came together to further develop the framework for a European Time & Frequency network. In this blog, I will explain what this network aims to achieve and what role SURF plays in it.

    From National to International

    In recent years, many national NRENs (National Research & Education Networks), together with NMIs (National Metrology Institutes), have established Time & Frequency networks. These networks distribute time and frequency signals via optic networks to researchers and, in some cases, commercial parties. Various types of scientific research benefit from the improved synchronization and calibration of measuring equipment, leading to more refined results.

    Want to learn more about how we do this and how it works? Read more about SURF Time & Frequency [here], or listen to the podcast I recorded on this topic with SURF.

    What was still missing was cross-border connectivity between these national networks. GÉANT is now working with NRENs and NMIs to develop a network that connects individual countries.

    A Golden Partnership: NRENs & NMIs

    In recent years, NRENs and NMIs have increasingly found common ground and are working together more closely. NMIs provide the clocks and the sources for the Time & Frequency signals, while NRENs supply the network infrastructure and expertise to distribute these signals.

    Interestingly, the creators of these atomic clocks—who typically provide the source for current Time & Frequency networks—now require the network themselves to further develop the so-called optical clocks.

    Optical Clocks

    Optical clocks are the next generation timekeeping devices, capable of measuring time with far greater precision than the current cesium atomic clocks. By using lasers instead of microwaves (higher frequency means higher precision), these clocks can measure time up to hundreds of times more accurately than the current generation. By 2030, this technology is expected to lead to a redefinition of the second.

    But how do we know if an optical clock is working correctly? Measurement requires comparison. If you want to measure the length of a bacteria, you wouldn’t use a standard tape measure—you need a more precise instrument. Similarly, an optical clock, which would only drift by one second over 15 billion years, can only be tested by comparing it to another optical clock.

    However, you can’t simply pack an optical clock into a suitcase and take a train from Amsterdam to Braunschweig (where another optical clock is being developed). A different approach is needed.

    A picture of a research clock at the UvA. More info see iqclock.eu.

    Comparing Clock Signals via the Network

    What is possible, however, is the transmission of an optical clock’s frequency signal via a network. This allows clocks in different locations to be compared. And not just two clocks—you need multiple clocks to determine if any of them have a deviation.

    The technology for transmitting these frequency signals is now so advanced that the signal loss is smaller than the uncertainty of the clocks themselves. This is precisely what the first phase of the Core Time/Frequency Network (C-TFN) enables. Through this network, Dutch clocks at UvA Amsterdam Science Park are compared with clocks from Germany and France. Amsterdam Science Park will play a central role in this new network, creating a unique situation where signals from the world’s best NMIs converge and are analysed.

    National Ultra Stable Optical Frequency Network

    Not only timekeeping researchers benefit from these signals. Several SURF members, such as ESA, VU, and TU/e, have already expressed interest in gaining access to these highly precise frequency signals.

    The technology enabling this, Ultra Stable Optical Frequency Transfer (a kind of “White Rabbit on steroids”), is another factor of 1000 more precise than White Rabbit, reaching precision levels in the pico- and femtosecond range. This has applications in fields such as quantum computing. That’s why we are already installing filters in the national network to distribute these signals. This way, SURF continues to lead the way in supporting researchers in the Netherlands.

  • Strengthening Global Research Ties at APAN59: A Dutch-Asian Collaboration Spotlight

    Strengthening Global Research Ties at APAN59: A Dutch-Asian Collaboration Spotlight

    Back from #APAN59, and what a fantastic experience! Honored to represent SURF and #NetherLight, highlighting their impact in international research collaborations—especially between scientists in Japan and in the Netherlands.

    A great example is the #TTADDA project, where Wageningen University & Research (WUR), together with Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan (MAFFIN), National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) and several other partners are using drone technology to tackle food challenges through Dutch-Japanese #agritech collaboration.

    It was great to reconnect with peers worldwide, make new connections, and gain fresh insights. Huge thanks to all the speakers and moderators for their excellent work, including my dear colleague Alexander van den Hil whose expertise also as a moderator I very much admire!

    And of course, a big thank you to everyone who made this event so valuable, and to #APAN for an outstanding conference. Looking forward to what’s next!

    皆さん、本当にありがとうございました！
    (Minasan, hontō ni arigatō gozaimashita!)
    Thank you all very much!

    #GlobalResearchNetworking

    #InternationalConnectivity

    #GREN

    #NetherLight

  • New technology for lightning-fast data traffic: SURF and ASTRON realise 400G connection with OpenZR+

    New technology for lightning-fast data traffic: SURF and ASTRON realise 400G connection with OpenZR+

    For more information see: https://www.surf.nl/en/news/new-technology-for-lightning-fast-data-traffic-surf-and-astron-realise-400g-connection .

    Scientific research in the Netherlands has gained an advanced networking technology: OpenZR+. Together with ASTRON, the Dutch institute for radio astronomy, we used this technology to create a 400G connection that can transmit even sharper images of space. Institutions in need of scaling up network connectivity can easily request this within SURF’s All-In network tariff.

    Since July 2024, SURF members who need a network upgrade for their research can request additional bandwidth or additional services from us within the All-In network tariff. For ASTRON, we thus realised a direct connection between the research facilities in Groningen and Dwingeloo, with increased bandwidth from 10 to 400 Gigabits per second.

    Faster data transfer LOFAR telescope

    For astronomers working with the LOFAR telescope, the network upgrade means they can now study the universe in even more detail. LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) is the world’s largest radio telescope operating at the lowest frequencies observable from Earth. The telescope consists of thousands of small antennas scattered across Europe.

    Thanks to the improved network connection, LOFAR can now send more signals simultaneously to a central computer (the ‘correlator’), which processes the data and turns them into images of space. Thanks to the increased bandwidth, this is done not only faster, but also in higher quality, resulting in even sharper LOFAR images.

    Collaboration strengthens research

    In addition, the new network connection allows astronomers to sign up for multicast streams of data coming directly from the LOFAR stations. “This offers researchers direct, real-time access to the latest scientific data, at the moment they need it,” says Julian Kootstra, network engineer at ASTRON. “Having your own cluster gives you instant access to new data – a revolutionary way to push the boundaries of our knowledge.”

    Paul Klop, optical network architect at SURF, is also pleased with the result: “With this 400G connection, we are supporting researchers at ASTRON to achieve their scientific goals. The cooperation with ASTRON was excellent and shows how we can work with our members to deploy innovative technologies to enable groundbreaking research.”

    Advantages OpenZR+ technology

    The network upgrade at ASTRON used 400G-ZR optics, a technology that amplifies the signal in the network without separate transponders. This requires fewer intermediate components, reducing the complexity of the network. This provides several advantages:

    • Less chance of malfunctions
    • Simpler network management
    • Lower costs through more efficient equipment
    • Reduced power consumption, contributing to sustainable data processing
    • More compact equipment, allowing data centres to be set up more efficiently

    In SURF’s network of the future, SURFnet-Infinity, OpenZR+ technology will be the standard for all medium-distance connections.

    SURFnet-Infinity: the future of research networking

    The 400G upgrade is part of our broader strategy to set up the network of the future: SURFnet-Infinity. This network, based on open standards, allows equipment from different suppliers to be connected over long distances. This makes the SURF network more flexible and future-proof.

    Through the All-In network tariff, we aim to provide educational and research institutions with network solutions tailored to their specific needs. In this way, we can support the Dutch research community even better.

  • Field trip to visit our colleagues at DFN-Verein

    Field trip to visit our colleagues at DFN-Verein

    What an insightful day in Berlin! A big thank you to Stefan Piger and Leonie Schäfer from DFN-Verein for the engaging discussions and valuable learnings. It was a pleasure to exchange ideas and explore opportunities for collaboration together. Looking forward to continuing this conversation!

  • Digital lead Netherlands under pressure

    Digital lead Netherlands under pressure

    Traditionally, the Netherlands has been an important digital hub in Europe. Sea cables landed in the Netherlands and made Amsterdam a digital hub. That had enormous appeal for parties that need a strong digital network, such as education and research. The leading position that the Netherlands has had for a long time is now under pressure. Why is that? Why is it bad if we lose that position? And what will it take not to lose this important position?

    Listen to this episode (in Dutch) of SURFsounds with Peter van Burgel, CEO of Amsterdam Internet Exchange (AMS-IX) and Alexander van der Hil, international policy and strategy advisor at SURF.

    https://podcast.surf.nl/@SURFsounds/episodes/digital-copposition-dutch-under-pressure-nuzey

    https://open.spotify.com/show/6IcYxQzB6wCCvxFJL34gzM

    https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/surf-sounds/id1682253126

    https://soundcloud.com/surf_sounds/digitale-koppositie-nederland-onder-druk/s-SdMgOCkefJM?si=140fbcd731d549088f76a46ff4fd0d87&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

    Via: https://www.surf.nl/podcast/digitale-koppositie-nederland-onder-druk