EUMEDCONNECT Project including West Asia David West David

EUMEDCONNECT Project (including West Asia) David West David. West@Dante. org. uk

Pan-European research network Pan-European coverage: 32 Countries/National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) l l Connectivity up to 10 Gb/s Linking more than 3100 Universities l Total 200 M Euro over 4 years (80 M Euro from EU – the rest from NREN countries local funds) l

International Initiatives • ALICE (Latin America) • EUMEDCONNECT (Mediterranean) • SEEREN (West Balkans)

EUMEDCONNECT Project Objectives • Link national research networks of Mediterranean countries to GÉANT and the rest of the research world • Increase research networking within the region • Ensure that network services and international structures are sustainable beyond the end of the project • In this way: – Ease the EU-MED digital divide – Globalise research – Strengthen human relationships and stability

EUMEDCONNECT – Beneficiary countries Already Connected to GÉANT: • CYPRUS • ISRAEL • MALTA • TURKEY • Other Eligible Countries: • ALGERIA • EGYPT • JORDAN • LEBANON • MOROCCO • PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY • SYRIA • TUNISIA

EUMEDCONNECT Project Partners • Coordinator - DANTE • Mediterranean partners: – Algeria (CERIST), Cyprus (CYNET), Egypt (EUN), Israel (IUCC), Jordan (NIC), Lebanon (NCSR), Malta (Uo. M), Morocco (CNRST), Palestinian Authority (GCC), Syria (HIAST), Tunisia (RNRT), Turkey (ULAKBIM) • European partners: – France (RENATER), Greece (GRNET), Italy (GARR), Spain (Red. IRIS)

EUMEDCONNECT Project Phases • EUMEDIS Advisory Committee meetings – 2001 • EUMEDCONNECT Planning studies (Phase 1) – Dec 2001 to June 2002 • Tendering (Phase 2 A) – Nov 2002 to Dec 2003 • Service (Phase 2 B) Jan 2004 to June 2006

Project Funding • 10 M Euro EC contribution (up to 80% of total costs) • Remainder contributed by beneficiaries • Total project budget is c 12. 5 M Euro over project lifetime • Costs to be shared between beneficiaries in proportion to bandwidth required

Target Topology GÉANT MED-NREN • Total bandwidth 200 – MED-NREN 300 Mbps • Individual links 2 – 45 EUMEDCONNECT Mbps • Mainly terrestrial MED-NREN Network connections likely • Direct connections to GÉANT expected MED-NREN initially MED-NREN

Project Organisation • Project Meetings every 2 -3 months • Technical meetings: 2 so far, more planned with project meetings • DANTE acts as interface with the European Commission and with service providers • Project partners contract with DANTE • European partners providing technical support

Experience to date • Strong partner interest • Partners research networks at very different stages of development • Project on schedule despite political and economic challenges • Monopoly markets – Except Israel – Very high commercial prices – Most treating EUMEDCONNECT as special project