Advancing Latin American Networking: Milestones, Plans, and Future

1. CLARA - Cooperación Latino Americana de Redes Avanzadas: milestones, plans and the future October 2003 Michael StantonMember, CLARA Technical CommitteeRede Nacional de Ensino e Pesquisa do Brasil - RNP<michael@rnp.br>

2. A Brief Story of Networking in Latin America • Political, linguistic and cultural considerations have traditionally led to considerable interaction between countries within the region However, networking has not followed this model: • First connections (BITNET) starting 1986 using satellite links between the US and each country separately • Same topology inherited with transition to Internet • Even multilateral initiatives (RedHUCyT in mid 90s and AMPATH from 2001) have used traffic hubs in the US. Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

3. First global conections from LA countries Two “classical” phases of connectivity: • e-mail networks (BITNET, UUCP) • full Internet (IP) connectivity • Table shows the first connections for each LA NREN (National Research and Education Network) Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

4. Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

5. Influence of telecommunications infrastructure • Until very recently, the only available telecom infrastructure for data communication was by satellite • cost independent of distance • no incentive for establishing links within the region, as all countries were mainly interested in access to global Internet • Recent important changes (since late 1990s): • end of state telecom monopoly in many countries • competition and lower prices • most LA NRENs replaced by commodity IP providers (for economic or political reasons) • building out of new infrastructure based on submarine fibre optical cables Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

6. Optical cable infra-structure • Advances in optical transmission technologies have recently made it possible to build very long distance undersea communications systems based on DWDM • In the late 1990s, many new DWDM cable systems were built, vastly increasing the installed capacity • Principal new undersea cable operators in Latin America: • Global Crossing • Telefonica International Wholesale Services - TIWS(e-mergia) • New World Networks (ARCOS cable) Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

7. PanamericanE-mergia (Telefonica)ImpSatTransandinoUniSurGlobal Crossing New Optical Cables in Latin America Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

8. North Miami 309km Cat Island 474km 271km 319km Crooked Island 521km Providenciales(Turks & Caicos Islands) Cancun 258km 165km Tulum Puerto Plata 376km 325km 291km San Juan 363km Ladyville Punta Cana Trujillo 294km 241km PuertoBarrios PuertoLempira PuertoCortes 1006km 339km 114km 258km PuertoCabezas 372km Curacao 279km 242km Bluefields Willemstad 351km Punto Fijo 270km Riohacha 371km 301km 314km PuertoLimon MariaChiquita Ustupo New cables in the Caribbean (Maya2 & Arcos) Maya Arcos(festoon) Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

9. Ampath: The GC-FIU Initiative • In 2000 thanks to an initiative by FIU, Global Crossing donates 10 DS-3s to be used by 10 countries in LA to connect to the Internet2 thru a POP located in Miami • In June 2001, Chile’s REUNA becomes the first LA NREN to get connected to the Ampath POP • In December 2001, both Argentina (RETINA) and Brazil (RNP) get connected to Ampath • In January 2002, FAPESP from Brazil connects to Ampath separetly from RNP • In April 2003, Venezuela’s REACCIUN gets connected to Ampath • All links are DS-3 • All connections are free of charge from GC for 3 years Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

10. Present Internet2 Connectivity in Latin America AmPath • uses Global Crossing • connects AR, BR (2), CL, VE • 45 Mbps • all connections are point to point from Miami, and thence to Abilene Mexico • cross-border connections to USA (TX and CA) AmPath Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

11. Present State of Latin American NRENs Established education and research networks: • With dedicated Internet2 connections: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Venezuela • Some with dedicated int’l connectivity:Cuba, Uruguay Education and research networks being re-established(present nat’l/int’l connectivity through commercial ISPs) • Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, El Salvador No education/research network (most connected to Internet via commercial ISPs): Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Haiti, rest of Caribbean Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

12. Argentina - RETINA (www.retina.ar) • 45 Mbps to AmPath Abundant Medium Narrow • 4 with advanced connectivity • 8 in the near future • 57 with low connectivity Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

13. ATM backbone 14 nodes 300 Mbps total b/w FR to other PoPs 15 state networks Aggregate int’l b/w over 400 Mbps (incl. 90 Mbps to AmPath) new backbone in 4Q2003 Brazil - RNP (www.rnp.br/index_en.html) Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

14. Arica Iquique Antofagasta Copiapó La Serena Valparaíso Santiago Talca Con cepción Temuco Valdivia Osorno Chile - REUNA (www.reuna.cl) • ATM backbone • 10 nodes • 10/60 Mbps • 45 Mbps to AmPath Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

15. Mexico - CUDI (www.cudi.edu.mx) • Internal links at 155 Mbps • 400 Mbps of int’l connectivity Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

16. Where do we go from here? • AMPATH´s achievements • Initial boost for Advanced Networking in LA • Stimulus for advanced connectivity inside each country • Motivation for collaborative projects • Connectivity needs, delayed till now due to high costs, being solved BUT • Why does LA communicate internally through Miami? • Why does LA communicate with other parts of the world through the US? Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

17. The @LIS iniciative of the European Union • Through GÉANT, the European R&E community enjoys high bandwidth connectivity with N. America • Initiatives already taken to improve connectivity to Asian-Pacific, Mediterranean and Latin American regions, with support from the European Commission • @LIS: Alliance for the Information Society (2003-2005) • 62.5 Million Euros for EU-LA on Information Society Issues • 10 Million Euros for Interconnecting Europe & Latin American Research and Education Networks (cost sharing: EU 80% - LA 20%) Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

18. CAESAR: Connecting All European and South American Researchers. European initiative to prepare for the @LIS program • Promote EU-LA connectivity through regional connectivity within LA plus a large pipe to Europe • Participants: DANTE, NRENs of Spain and Portugal • CAESAR Workshop 2002 in Toledo became starting point for CLARA • cooperative organisation for advanced networking in LA • regional network:feasibility study showed that @LIS budget sufficient to establish advanced connectivity to all LA countries Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

19. Association of NRENs in LA open to all LA Countries • constituted in Uruguay (like LACNIC) • Bylaws signed on June 10, 2003 in Mexico • Coordination amongst LA-NRENs and other stakeholders • Cooperation for the promotion of scientific and technological development • Planning and implementation of network services for regional interconnection Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

20. The Clara Network (RedClara) • Development of a regional network (here called RedCLARA) to interconnect the NRENs operated by its members • Cost to connect to the backbone will be the same for every country at equal bandwidth • RedCLARA to connect LA at first to Europe and then to other regions • May improve Internet2 connectivity by optimising LA participation in AMPATH • CLARA is not limited to @LIS/CAESAR time scale and restrictions • The joint EU-LA project, ALICE, is a very important initiative but not CLARA’s only goal Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

21. NRENs’ Present Status • Argentina RETINA Operational • Brazil RNP Operational • Bolivia - Organizing • Colombia - Organizing • Costa Rica CRNet Operational • Cuba RedUniv Operational • Chile REUNA Operational • Ecuador CEDIA Organizing • El Salvador RAICES Organizing • Guatemala RAGIE Organizing • Honduras - Organizing • Mexico CUDI Operational • Nicaragua - Organizing • Panamá RedCyt Organizing • Paraguay ARANDU Organizing • Perú RAP Organizing • Uruguay RAU Operational • Venezuela REACCIUN Operational Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

22. Comments about CLARA • CLARA responds to long-standing need for coordination between LA NRENs. • Builds on trust-building already carried out between major partners • Offers support for NREN building in other LA countries by provision of support and int’l connectivity Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

23. ALICE project: June 2003 - May 2006 ALICE - América Latina Interconectada Con Europa • Successor project to CAESAR • Coordinated by DANTE, with participation of NRENs from Italy, France, Spain, Portugal and the CLARA countries, and eventually CLARA itself • February 2003: technical definitions complete • June 2003: Open tender for provisioning of links • September/October 2003: Link contracts assigned • February 2004: Network operational Notes: • DANTE is the project coordinator and will sign contracts with users and providers • CLARA is expected to represent interests of LA users in the medium term (one year) Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

24. Suggested network topology • Major connectivity between Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico (at least 45 Mbps) • Other countries connect to major nodes (between 10 and 45 Mbps) • Large pipe to Europe (at least 155 Mbps) • Reasonable expectations of greater bandwidth than these minimum values, at least on backbone Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

25. Two possible ALICE network scenarios(based on early responses to tender) NOTE: tender is still not finalised Network expected to be operational in February, 2004 Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

26. Next steps? • With the RedCLARA in place, most LA R&E institutions will be accessible through the new infrastructure • Unequalled opportunities for intra-regional cooperation, strengthening internal cohesion • Opportunities for collaboration with outside groups • How will connectivity for new collaborations be funded? • EU @LIS initiative the first to invest outside money in regional connectivity infrastructure – very generous cost sharing (EU 80% - LA 20%) • Future external collaboration projects should follow the European example, adding additional value to the shared connectivity infrastructure, rather than seeking dedicated connectivity for “their” specific projects Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

27. Next steps? • Joint study CLARA – Internet2 already underway: • Identify principal areas of scientific collaboration between US and CLARA countries, which require advanced networking: • astronomy • earth sciences • health sciences • high energy physics • life sciences • Suggest specific investment in shared infrastructure as an efficient means of attaining sectorial project goals Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

28. Conclusion • International cooperation (through AmPath and CLARA) has repercussions: • provides valuable opportunities for academic user community in LA to collaborate with peer groups in other countries • permits the acquiring and diffusion of experience in advanced networking technologies, often absent in LA countries • permits effective attainment of connectivity goals through shared support of common infrastructure Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003

29. Acknowledgements and references • With thanks to many colleagues from both Europe and Latin America, too many all to be mentioned here individually. Most of the LA maps are by Florencio Utreras, from REUNA (Chile). • ALICE website:www.dante.net/alice • ALICE brochure (in English, Spanish and Portuguese):www.dante.net/alice/ALICEbrochure.pdf Michael Stanton - Internet2 ITF October 2003