Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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# 92001E0735

**WRITTEN QUESTION E-0735/01 by Roy Perry (PPE-DE) to the Commission. High-speed trans European communications network.** 
  
*Official Journal 318 E , 13/11/2001 P. 0112 - 0112*

  

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0735/01

by Roy Perry (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(9 March 2001)

Subject: High-speed trans European communications network

The 2000 Lisbon European Council called on the Council and the Commission, together with the Member States where appropriate to facilitate the creation by the end of 2001 of a very high-speed trans European network for electronic scientific communications, with EIB support, linking research institutions and universities, as well as scientific libraries, scientific centres and, progressively, schools. Does the Commission believe that this target will be met, and what evidence can it supply to support its view?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(1 June 2001)

The major action leading to the creation of an high performance network for research in Europe was the launching of the GÉANT backbone for research in Europe, in November 2000, in the context of the Information Society Technologies (IST) Programme (with a Community contribution of 80 millions for a total estimated cost of 200 millions).

GÉANT increases the geographic coverage of Europe's internet backbone for research from 24 to 30 countries, and increases its capacity by a factor of 16 times to that provided by the previous 155 Megabits per second (Mbit/s) technology. In fact, it is expected that in November 2001, 2,5 Gigabits per second (Gbps) connectivity will be installed between eleven countries.

Such a European development matches, and complements the developments taking place at national level through the National Research and Education Networks (NRENs). This backbone interconnects all NRENs of the Community and Associated Countries which are also being significantly and continuously upgraded and which are responsible for bringing research and education institutions connected. GÉANT has set up a working group that investigates how funds from the European Investment Bank (EIB) could be used for the further upgrade of the European or national backbone networks.

The Commission is also supporting advanced trans-European scientific testbeds favouring the deployment very high speed (beyond Gigabits) communications and GRID technology. In this respect the e.g. Datagrid project (lead by the European centre of nuclear research (CERN) and with a Community contribution of 10 millions) deploys a testbed linking the most advanced high energy physics institutes in Europe with the most advanced technology on high performance computing and networking.

Testbeds on GRIDs and GÉANT are a major support to the eEurope initiative and constitute essential infrastructures for the European Research Area, in line with the objectives set by the European Council.

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