WASHINGTON, Dec. 17, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Internet2®, a
nonprofit, advanced technology community founded by the nation's
leading higher education institutions, has selected CenturyLink's
new low-loss fiber network to transform its research and education
network. The improved network performance that results will
benefit researchers within the community as they strive to further
our understanding of our world and the universe.
CenturyLink's new low-loss optical fiber is an ITU-T G.652.D
compliant single-mode optical fiber that is optimized for high bit
rate coherent systems using advanced modulation schemes supporting
100G and above. This acquisition will upgrade Internet2's Network
with new fiber optimized to support the demands of its new
all-coherent open-line system. CenturyLink has also been selected
to provide the professional services to migrate Internet2 to its
new platform, which will be equipped with a flex-grid
open-line system being provided by Ciena. The new contractual
fiber-use agreements will extend through at least 2042.
"We believe the combination of the most advanced fiber from
CenturyLink with the latest coherent transmission technologies from
Ciena provides enormous opportunities to enable research and
academic pursuits in the United
States," said Rob Vietzke,
vice president of network services for Internet2. "Whether it is
tracking the origins of Neutrinos in the Antarctic, comparing gene
sequences or studying the climate, this new optical network, with
its ability to span very long distances at very high bandwidths and
improved efficiency, is essential to providing the best research
infrastructure for data-intensive science on the globe."
The new Internet2 Network infrastructure will utilize
CenturyLink's low-loss optical fiber on the majority of the
Internet2 footprint, offering the lowest loss of any
terrestrial-grade optical fiber and extending optical reach at very
high data rates. Using this single-mode fiber in both long-haul and
metro environments eliminates certain impairment challenges and
improves launch characteristics for modern coherent systems while
also boosting optical signal-to-noise ratio.
"One of America's leading research and education organizations
placed its trust in CenturyLink to upgrade its network to a
high-speed, high-capacity, fiber-optic network that will support
today's leading-edge research projects," said Sonia Ramsey, CenturyLink's vice president for
the state and local government and education market. "Internet2's
selection of CenturyLink recognizes the company's long-standing
relationship with the research and education community and our
commitment to meet the community's ever-increasing advanced
technology needs."
CenturyLink recently overpulled a large portion of its national
fiber footprint and also realigned amplifier spacing to create more
efficient resources for optimized optical networks. Internet2 will
migrate its segments to the new fiber on all available segments and
continue to work with CenturyLink to migrate the remaining segments
as their build-out continues.
With the low-loss optical fiber and the upgraded optronics kit,
Internet2 will have the ability to reach anywhere on its domestic
footprint with an unregenerated wavelength of up to 200G. Many
high-use spans on Internet2's Network will also support 400G and
800G wavelengths with existing technologies and higher bitrates are
expected in the coming years as new DSP technology comes into
production. Internet2 has been able to achieve unregenerated spans
without employing Raman amplification, a reduction in complexity
and improved efficiency both at installation and for ongoing
operations.
About Internet2
Internet2® is a non-profit,
member-driven advanced technology community founded by the nation's
leading higher education institutions in 1996. Internet2 serves 321
U.S. universities, 60 government agencies, 43 regional and state
education networks and through them supports more than 100,000
community anchor institutions, over 1,000 InCommon participants, 56
leading corporations working with our community, and 70 national
research and education network partners that represent more than
100 countries.
Internet2 delivers a diverse portfolio of technology solutions
that leverages, integrates, and amplifies the strengths of its
members and helps support their educational, research and community
service missions. Internet2's core infrastructure components
include the nation's largest and fastest research and education
network that was built to deliver advanced, customized
services that are accessed and secured by the community-developed
trust and identity framework.
Internet2 offices are located in Ann
Arbor, Mich.; Denver,
Colo.; Washington, D.C.;
and West Hartford, Conn. For more
information, visit www.internet2.edu or follow @Internet2 on
Twitter.
About CenturyLink
CenturyLink (NYSE: CTL) is a
technology leader delivering hybrid networking, cloud connectivity,
and security solutions to customers around the world. Through its
extensive global fiber network, CenturyLink provides secure and
reliable services to meet the growing digital demands of businesses
and consumers. CenturyLink strives to be the trusted connection to
the networked world and is focused on delivering technology that
enhances the customer experience. Learn more at
http://news.centurylink.com/.
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SOURCE Internet2