Porta Optica Study

Українська версія
Русская версия

The Porta Optica Study is a project worked out in 2006-2007 aiming to prepare the development of high-speed, fiber-based research and education networks in Eastern Europe, the Baltic States and Southern Caucasus region. Expansion of academic optical networks is one of the key aspects of building the research and education infrastructure in the European countries and one of the essential elements of the integrated growth of the European Research Area. The Porta Optica Study will address the disparity in the development of advanced research networks, especially visible in the Eastern Europe.

Objectives

The ultimate goal of the Porta Optica Study is the stimulation and consolidation of initiatives to ensure successful, dark-fiber based research network deployment in the Eastern Europe countries, particularly in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova and Ukraine. For this purpose the project will:

  • identify potential beneficiaries of NREN services,
  • identify the availability to deploy dark fiber-based NRENs and dark fiber interconnections to GÉANT2,
  • perform case studies and propose viable deployment scenarios for dark fiber infrastructures,
  • raise awareness and disseminate the project results.

Extensive studies of Porta Optica will enhance the opportunities of the research and education communities in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The main concept here is to indicate directions for the future expansion of academic optical networks, which can be achieved by increase of their capacities as well as provision of virtually unlimited access to the pan-European research and education network GÉANT2. Such infrastructure expansion will have a significant impact on user engagement in the new research projects related to astronomy, fusion energy science, high energy physics, climate modeling, biochemistry, which usually use GRID infrastructure and need high-speed data networks capable of transporting huge data files - ranging up to hundreds of terabits in size and supporting intensive calculations and simulations. The proper network infrastructure will also enable education collaborations between universities and local schools including shared seminars, distance learning programs, and international science fairs. Furthermore, it will allow students and researchers from beneficiary countries for more efficient cooperation in scientific ventures with leading research centers in the world. High-speed communication infrastructure will provide advanced network services and will significantly contribute to building the Information Society in Eastern and Southeastern regions of Europe.

The Porta Optica Study project results will have influence on over 1400 scientific institutions and 700 education institutions in nine target countries and will have a wide impact on international research cooperation. The Porta Optica Study project involves organizations from 14 countries, both from European Union and Newly Independent States countries. The project supplements and cooperates with similar existing initiatives such as GÉANT2, SEEFIRE and EUMEDCONNECT.

For more information, visit : www.porta-optica.org.
Updated: 20.02.2008.