SURF.net news

Tag: International Connectivity

  • Strengthening Global Collaboration: SURF Welcomes Japanese Partners

    Science and progress thrive on sharing knowledge and resources. Research and Education Networks (RENs) play a vital role in enabling seamless collaboration between researchers and educators worldwide. By connecting scientists and their data across borders, RENs serve as the backbone of groundbreaking discoveries, proving that together we can achieve more.

    SURF, as part of this global network of RENs, collaborates with partners like GÉANT in Europe, NORDUnet in the Nordic countries, PSNC Future Labs in Poland, and SINET in Japan. Together, we ensure state-of-the-art connectivity and IT infrastructure to empower researchers and educators with fast, reliable internet and cutting-edge technology.

    In this spirit of international collaboration, SURF recently welcomed Isao Arai and 情報大学 (Jyousouken), representatives of our Japanese partner SINET, to our office in Utrecht. During their visit, they worked on upgrading the SINET connection to SURF’s NetherLight network, further enhancing the connectivity between Japan and the Netherlands.

    SINET, Japan’s high-speed academic network operated by the National Institute of Informatics (NII), connects universities and research institutions across Japan and collaborates internationally with organisations like SURF.

    This visit provided an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge, strengthen ties, and support meaningful collaboration. SURF extends its gratitude to Isao Arai and 情報大学 for their contribution to this shared effort in advancing research and education globally.

  • SURF, Nikhef, and CERN are preparing for the High Luminosity LHC

    SURF facilitates the high-bandwidth connections between Amsterdam and Geneva. With the advent of the High Luminosity Large Hadron Collider at CERN, traffic is expected to increase fivefold in the coming years. This upgrade will enable more precise measurements, allowing for more detailed research into the origins of the universe. As a result, the amount of research data is projected to grow by five to seven and a half times compared to current levels. All this data must be distributed via various networks, including SURF’s network, to universities and research groups in the Netherlands and worldwide.

    To successfully handle this massive data volume, SURF is working with partners on the optical network. For the upcoming test, they are collaborating with supplier Nokia. Nokia has developed a new generation of network cards that allow for higher transmission rates between Amsterdam and Geneva. The test is scheduled for early next year, but preparations are already in full swing: