CESNET has completed the first phase of its network upgrade, which will bring faster speed and better service availability

Prague, June 27th, 2022. On the occasion of the 29th anniversary of the launch of the Czech academic network, which took place on June 15th, 1993, CESNET announced the completion of the initial phase of the modernization of its backbone communication network. This backbone network, built over 2240 kilometers of fibre optic routes, forms the basis of the CESNET e-infrastructure, which serves domestic science, research, and education and is part of e-INFRA CZ – a unique e-infrastructure for research and development in the Czech Republic. The modernization brings a generational technological change and therefore the association is changing the name of its backbone network to CESNET3. The modernization of the network was funded by the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education of the Ministry of Education and Science within the e-INFRA CZ: Modernisation project.

The technological shift leads to a substantial reduction in space requirements for the placement of new elements and reduces power consumption at many times the transmission capacity, thus contributing to a more cost-effective operation of the network infrastructure.
The system is based on the latest FlexGrid technology, which allows much more efficient use of the optical spectrum, realizing transmission channels with dynamic width and thus achieving higher transmission capacities in the future. Current channel capacities start at 100 Gb/s and are limited only by the capabilities of the transponder layer.

The system is based on the latest FlexGrid technology, which makes it possible to use the optical spectrum much more efficiently, to realize transmission channels with a dynamic width, and thus achieve greater transmission capacities in the future. Current channel capacities start at 100 Gb/s and are limited only by the capabilities of the transponder layer.

The upgraded system is also ready for future implementation of quantum key transfer (QKD) as well as precise time and frequency on a shared medium. CESNET considers these technologies promising. The association is ready to create an environment for advanced transmissions, including their connection to international infrastructures.

For the subsequent IP/MPLS layer of the network, which is currently being upgraded, transport capacities of 100 Gb/s and 400 Gb/s will be used in the first period, with higher speeds expected depending on the technological development of the relevant components. This also means that CESNET is already capable of delivering speeds in excess of 1 Tb/s over the combined channels and is ready to meet the demanding technological requirements of the scientific research community, for example in the area of interconnecting data sources, data repositories and computing capacity.

The network modernization was carried out at full operation without any interruption in the supply of services to customers. The resulting optical topology covers most regional cities. The transmission system was expanded with additional routes and nodes. As a result, the southern ring Prague-Plzeň-České Budějovice-Jihlava-Brno was completed and the nodes Pardubice, Zlín and Ústí nad Labem were newly incorporated into the core.

Topology of the upgraded backbone network CESNET3

The modernization of the network was financed by the Operational Programme Research, Development and Education within the e-INFRA CZ: Modernisation project (identification number: CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/18_072/0015659).

CESNET was founded in 1996 by universities and the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Its aim is to operate and develop ICT services that form the national e-infrastructure for research, development, and education e-INFRA CZ. Research and development in the field of information and communication technologies are also an integral part of its activities. CESNET is an active partner in a number of foreign research infrastructures, such as the pan-European network for research, development, and education GÉANT, the European Grid Infrastructure EGI.eu, and the European Open Science Infrastructure EOSC. More at  www.cesnet.cz, www. e-infra.cz.