Press Release High Speed Networking Symposium

PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 2 February 1994

HIGH SPEED NETWORKING SYMPOSIUM:
'Tentative steps towards a Electronic Highway for Europe'

The highly successful third symposium on High Speed Networking for research
in Europe was held in Brussels today. It was organized by RARE (Reseaux
Associes pour la Recherche Europeenne) with support of the European
Commission. That there is an increasing need for a debate on high speed
networking issues may be concluded from the attendance of this symposium by
more than 150 experts from over 24 countries worldwide.

The attendees gathered to present and review the status of high speed
networking for research in Europe and discuss the future and developments
in this field. 
The majority of the participants came from networking organizations and
universities, but also high-level research institutions (CERN, INFN,...),
Space laboratories (CNES, NLR,...),  governmental organizations, Public
Telecommuni- cations Operators and the European Commission were well
represented.
The speakers came from various networking organizations in the U.S.A., the 
U.K., France and the Netherlands, Telecom in Finland, KTH Tele-informatics
in Sweden, Expertel, Alcatel, CNES and EDF-DER in France.

The keynote-address made by Mr. L. Rosello (Head of Unit DG XIII C/3) on
behalf of  
Mr. M. Richonnier (Director of DG XIII/C), emphasized the technological
developments relating to Telematic applications in connection with the
Fourth Framework Programme and expressed the Commission's support to
establish and maintain a research networking  infrastructure.

Fifteen presentations of high standards added to discussions on topics as:
-	high speed services plans applied to backbone technology
-	coordinated ATM testing  and services within Europe
-	existing advanced networking implementations ( wide area high speed 	
	networks -  SuperJANET)
-	engineering trans-oceanic 44 Mb/s TCP/IP networks
-	multimedia experiments in SGN, the Stockholm Gigabit Network
-	ATM interconnection and crossing European borders  
- 	ATM experiments for High Rate Space Telemetry Transportation

Focus of the day was on ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) technology; the
transmission technique for the coming decennia.
The symposium brought together people with practical experience of ATM from
the research, Public Networking Organizations and service communities, as
well as major commercial user organizations. Examples of on site, intersite
and even international testing with ATM were covered, as well as research
work related to supporting ATM at higher speeds. Some of the current gaps
in ATM implementations were identified, but it was noted that technical
specifications in these areas had been, or were being, produced. 

New in the field of ATM are the experiments that have been made with
interconnection and cross-border connections. Particularly the latter are
of vital importance to the European situation. As Prof.  Bjorn Pehrson
(from KTH/SICS) said: "Requirements for bandwith will explode in a few
years time". Appropriately Kees Neggers (Director of SURFNet and President
of RARE)  stressed in his presentation the need for increased international
cooperation and funding for the provision of a pan-European Network
Service. This plea was taken up by Prof. Paul Van Binst (University of
Brussels and RARE Treasurer) in his closing address. He urged the
Commission and organizations that are in need of good networking facilities
to give "five percent of the European Union's spending on research for the
European backbone". 

The announcement of the fourth symposium on High Speed Networking for
research in Europe in 2 years time was received with a warm welcome by all
those present.



For further information, contact		Judith KIERS
						RARE Secretariat
						Singel 466-468
						NL-1017 AW AMSTERDAM

						Tel:  +31 20 639 1131
						Fax: +31 20 639 3289