Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges, 22 May 2008 GÉANT2: The Good the Bad and the Ugly - What worked and what didn’t work? Robin G. Arak - Archway Computer Associates Ltd TNC 2008, Bruges, 22 May 2008

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 GÉANT2 Objectives  Provide gigabit-speed infrastructure to support European research and education Deploy the first international hybrid network: routed IP traffic combined with switched point-to-point circuits Implement end-to-end QoS provision  Provide research infrastructure for network technology developments  Develop a wider range of network services –Performance monitoring –Security  –Bandwidth on demand  –Testbed facility  –Mobility and roaming

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 Provide user support and consultancy Benchmark and support development of NRENs  Coordinate Research and Technology Development activities Extend geographic reach of the network Conduct strategic studies into the future of European research networking (i.e. EARNEST) Disseminate benefits and achievements of the network GÉANT2 Objectives (2)

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 GÉANT2 - the network The GÉANT2 network itself is a high capacity, leading edge world class network dedicated to R & E with global connectivity A multi-service network (IP & P2P) was very cost effectively procured and more dark fibre was obtained than anticipated at an affordable price Take up of P2P circuits has been lower than anticipated - calls into question value for money in some areas  However P2P (full and sub-lambdas) have been used to support some important projects

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 Managing GÉANT2 There is a “management” model which allows all partners to participate in decision making –NREN PC –NREN PC Executive committee –NREN PC technical committee Not always effective at taking decisions quickly and decisions are sometimes taken twice!  ??Could the model be further improved without losing the ability for all partners to participate?? YES!! How??

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 GÉANT2 – cost sharing The model for cost sharing needs to be addressed –The geographic/economic divide is opening up the gap between: Countries far from the centre of Europe  Countries with uncompetitive telecoms markets  Countries with poor regulation in markets  The idea that delivering the same service to all at similar costs/prices has to be abandoned  ??How will a new cost sharing model effect GN3??

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 GÉANT2 – JRAs JRAs are often technology driven rather well defined user requirements.  Overall collaboration has been good. Some real results have produced from the JRAs that are developing into services. Roll out of the results of JRAs to well supported services (SAs) has been patchy.  Resources – the planned human resources have not always been delivered leading to project delays staffing problems, failure to deliver on time, etc. 

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 GÉANT2 – JRAs (2) Management - often carried out as peer management by technical people.  –Sometimes a lack of defined objectives.  –Reluctance to make difficult decisions to focus on a particular solution.  –Decisions are taken that allow multiple solutions to be rolled out which are complex to support.  –Lack of use of standard project management methodologies 

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 Promoting GÉANT2 Marketing and promotion of GÉANT2 is seen as a side issue and generally organised by technical people.  Therefore marketing/PR activities take time away from the technical effort  However some good PR for GÉANT2 has been generated and has been effective ?? Wouldn’t marketing and PR be better carried out by marketing and PR experts ??

Connect. Communicate. Collaborate TNC Bruges 22 May 2008 Discussion Points Marketing- led versus technology-led approach Challenges specific to providing services in a multi-country environment Increasing accessibility to non- technical users What will future networking technology innovation bring?  Implications of the above for GÉANT2 successor