New Ethernet-optimised optical network interconnects 32 Swedish Universities to support bandwidth-intensive research and collaboration
9th May 2007 - Imtech Telecom today announced that it has successfully built a new 10-Gigabit Ethernet network for the Swedish University Computer Network (SUNET). As the main contractor and systems integrator, Imtech Telecom deployed the new nationwide optical network, OptoSUNET, as a turnkey solution to interconnect 32 universities across Sweden. Imtech has also thereby delivered the first research and education network in Scandinavia based on Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology. This agreement with SUNET runs over 12 years and is calculated to be worth approximately €50M including maintenance.
Imtech implemented Ciena’s optical transmission, multi-service transport, Ethernet services and network management solutions and Juniper Networks T-series core routers to provide the Swedish University community with greater flexibility, higher capacity and increased reliability to support its ever increasing network demands.
The new optical network is also fully redundant with two optical links connecting Stockholm to each University. To deliver a complete service to SUNET, Imtech Telecom subcontracted the installation, testing services and field maintenance of the systems to Eltel Networks, a Northern Europe infranet service company.
Imtech Telecom delivered the new OptoSUNET network in one year - the contract between SUNET and Imtech was signed on April 3rd 2006, and a ready for operations network, designed to replace SUNET’s old leased 10 Gbps routed architecture, was delivered on March 30th 2007 and put into operation immediately.
“Imtech Telecom has helped us build a powerful and sophisticated next-generation network that will allow educational institutions to optimise bandwidth usage and improve collaboration on research projects and simulations,” commented Hans Wallberg, chief of operations for OptoSUNET. “This new network will also reduce operational costs while allowing us to scale to 40Gb and beyond as our research requirements evolve. Imtech Telecom has proven that it can consistently meet our high requirements on quality, flexibility and network performance at the lowest cost.”
Imtech Telecom brought together the following elements in the OptoSUNET network:
• Existing dark-fibre and telecom buildings.
• Ciena’s CoreStream® Agility Optical Transport System, CN 4200™ FlexSelect™ Advanced Services Platform, CN 4350™ Ethernet Services Provisioning Switch and ON-Center® Network and Services Management Suite
• Juniper Networks T-series core router, as the central platform in SUNET’s IP backbone network.
“The research and education community has become a pioneering force in the implementation of increasingly high-capacity and reliable networks. OptoSUNET is a very complex network which comprises a number of new applications, yet despite these challenges Imtech Telecom was able to deploy a next-generation network that met SUNET’s exacting standards in very aggressive timescales, which yet again demonstrates our considerable expertise and leadership position in this field,” said Cees van Laarhoven, from the Imtech Executive Council.
About Imtech Telecom
Juniper Networks and the Juniper Networks logo are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks, service marks, registered trademarks, or registered service marks are the property of their respective owners
Ciena Corporation is the network specialist, focused on expanding the possibilities for its customers’ networks while reducing their cost of ownership. The Company’s systems, software and services target and cure specific network pain points so that telcos, cable operators, governments can best exploit the new applications that are driving their business forward. For more information, visit www.ciena.com
Eltel Networks is the leading Infranet company in northern Europe, engineering, building and maintaining the lifelines of society, which entails electrical and telecommunication networks. With a staff over 6000 people their mission is to add further strength and security to northern European business and society, by offering efficient and innovative solutions. Eltel Networks has a great international coverage but their focus and core business is to have local presence. For more information, contact infosweden@eltelnetworks.com
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