Pan-European Research & Education Network Operator, GÉANT, Deploys Infinera Cloud Xpress

GÉANT, Europe’s collaboration on e-infrastructure and services for research and education (R&E), and operator of the pan-European R&E network that interconnects Europe’s National Research and Education Networks (NRENs), has deployed Infinera Cloud Xpress to extend their 100 gigabit Ethernet (GbE) network connectivity into data centers. 

Initial connectivity is being provided to Jisc, the UK organization for education and research digital services and solutions, which enables the Janet network, and CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, to deliver connectivity to their data center in Budapest. The addition of Infinera Cloud Xpress would allow GÉANT to extend its GbE services seamlessly into more European data centers with hyper-scale density, operational simplicity and low power consumption.

Together with its NREN partners, the GÉANT pan-European network connects over 50 million users at 10,000 institutions across Europe, supporting scientific research and discovery in areas such as energy, the environment, space and medicine.

infinera cloud xpressWith Infinera Cloud Xpress, GÉANT leverages Infinera’s unique photonic integrated circuit technology to support up to one terabit per second (Tb/s) of input and output capacity in just two rack units. With its small form factor and low power consumption, Cloud Xpress would deliver a full 500 gigabit per second (Gb/s) super-channel of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) line-side bandwidth over 150 kilometers (km) without any need for additional multiplexers or amplifiers and up to 600 km with an amplified line system.

Cloud Xpress would also enable efficient scaling with simple provisioning and open interfaces to plug into existing cloud provisioning systems using open software defined networking (SDN) application programming interfaces (APIs). Instant Bandwidth allows the activation of WDM bandwidth in 100 Gb/s increments via a few clicks of a mouse enabling rapid scale to meet continued customer demands. 

“We wanted something that integrated with our existing Infinera XTC footprint across Europe to provide a scalable, cost effective way to extend 100 GbE connectivity into more locations across Europe to meet the growing demands of our users while minimizing the need for space and power,” said Mark Johnston, chief network operations officer at GÉANT. “Rapid and easy provision of new services was also a critical factor for us. Instant Bandwidth allows the rapid activation of new services to meet the evolving requirements of our users.”

The Cloud Xpress Family

Infinera introduced its Cloud Xpress family in 2014 delivering a cloud-optimized WDM solution to cloud service providers, Internet content providers, Internet Exchange service providers and other large-scale data center operators. Infinera recently expanded its Cloud Xpress family by shipping Cloud Xpress with 100 GbE, offering customers the choice of 10 GbE, 40 GbE and 100 GbE client interfaces to meet their specific requirements. Infinera‘s XT-500 complements the Cloud Xpress to deliver longer reach data center interconnect, up to 4,000 km, with the same high density and low power.