Jisc is deploying Ciena’s 6,500 packet-optical platform powered by WaveLogic Ai coherent optics to provide unprecedented high-capacity 400G wavelength connectivity for the Janet Network.
One of the most digitally-advanced national research and education networks globally in terms of scale, automation and network intelligence, the Janet Network connects all further and higher education organisations in the UK - including universities, colleges and research centres -are connected to the internet, as well as some alternative education providers, other public bodies and science parks. Jisc is also responsible for all .ac.uk and .gov.uk domains.
‘Our vision is for the UK to be at the forefront of scientific research,' said Jeremy Sharp, network infrastructure director at Jisc. 'To make that happen, we must have a highly robust network powered with industry-leading technology that can scale to support bandwidth-intensive applications like genome editing and The Square Kilometre Array. Working with Ciena, the Janet Network was the first to provide 100G for users and, as demand has grown, is now the first to provide 400G. WaveLogic Ai enables us to operate efficiently and accurately engineer the network for optimal capacity to manage massive flows from new data-intensive research activities.'
Added Rod Wilson, chief technologist for research networks at Ciena: ‘We are helping bring a new paradigm for optical networks by making the network more programmable and responsive to changing user demands while using less hardware. WaveLogic Ai focuses on delivering considerable digital advantage, financial savings and efficiencies.’
The WaveLogic Ai technology has also recently been deployed in a number of other markets, from assisting Unitymedia with its network upgrade in Germany (see Unitymedia adds network capacity with Ciena's Wavelogic Ai), to helping Telstra and Ericsson achieve speeds over 61.5GHz spectrum on Telstra’s transmission network in Melbourne (see Telstra, Ciena and Ericsson achieve record speeds over 61.5GHz spectrum).
