Future R&E networks: Technology challenges

1. Future R&E networks:Technology challenges Roberto Sabatino CTO DANTE

2. A SoA R&E network : GEANT • 10 Gbps in 8 locations, 2.5Gbps in 9 locations + some traditional SDH • 130Gbps in backbone • 30Gbps access, max 2.5Gbps per NREN • shared IP infrastructure, with differentiated IP services

3. Great Expectations…….. • 40+Gbps, single channel • IP/optical integration • end-2-end wavelengths, to the user sites, spread over Europe • driven by • increased user demand for bw • GRIDs • enabled by • advances in opto-electronics • advances in all-optical solutions • reductions of transmission and equipment costs • desire of carriers and vendors to work with R&E networks

4. …….Or Hard Times ?? • Are user’s needs for 40G real or are we dreaming? • What’s the truth on carrier’s adoption of 40Gbps? • What are the realistic developments of opto-electronics needed to support IP/optical integration and the real economies behind it? • wavelengths to users, on an end-to-end basis, all over Europe? Multi-domain operation and management?

5. User needs for 40Gbps • Each GRID application requires several Gbps • “common mortals” use more and more bw, for peer-2-peer computing today (never mind for what…) • YES, 40+Gbps aggregate in backbones is needed, and soon

6. What flavour of 40Gbps ? • 4x10Gbps or single channel, what’s the economic reality ? Technology and operations costs ? • Shared IP infrastructure or mixed IP/layer-2 environment • Cost of bigger routers/cards for shared IP vs. cost of smaller routers and switches for mixed solution. • Management costs ?

7. Our perception ofCarrier’s views on 40Gbps • Interested but wary of: • demand • investments required • technical challenges • To date, nobody intends to offer it • 4x10Gbps makes more sense

8. IP/Optical integration • To assist an environment where thousands of low capacity flows co-exist with a few high capacity streams and make more effective use of available capacity • Shared IP is simple ! • but relative costs of IP routing equipment are increasing • Is it the right approach anyway? • Use GMPLS ! • a mixed environment might be technically more appealing, but what about costs of optical equipment and management, all on the up! • who operates it? RENs or carriers? Authentication? • Multidomain challenge, again….!

9. End-2-End ?European Access to Wavelengths • Easy in UK, FR, NL, DE, BE • Accessible in AT, CH, ES, IT, CZ, HU, SK, PL, SE • Too difficult in GR, PT, SI • Virtually impossible elsewhere • Europe is still not uniform! Especially in the access • how can technology enable end-to-end ?

10. A new model ? • Today’s reality, for long distance, is based on procurement of p2p circuits, based on lambda’s with SONET framing/presentation. • Dark fibre for short distance scenarios • Can we reach a model where RENs procure managed dark fibre (dim fibre) for long distance ? At acceptable costs? • Routing, switching, regeneration, amplification ? • Per-domain management ? • end-2-end management? • Role of REN vs. role of carriers?

11. For discussion • 40Gbps feasibility, costs, hidden problems • shared IP or hybrid solution • GE vs. SONET framing • protection vs. redundancy • dim fibre service • in each and every case: multidomain service management