1. Access to dark fiber in Serbia & Montenegro Zoran Jovanović Slavko Gajin Belgrade University Computing Center NREN – National Research and Education Network of Serbia & Montenegro

2. Backbone of the NREN in 2000. Beograd Kragujevac Podgorica Kruševac Niš 2 Mbps Novi Sad 2 Mbps 1.5 Mbps

3. 1 Gbps 155 Mbps First access to dark fiber after the SINSEE pilot phase Beograd Kragujevac Podgorica Kruševac Niš Novi Sad 2 Mbps Grnet 2 Mbps 1.5 Mbps

4. Topology - January 2004. SEEREN and Gbps backbone Beograd Kragujevac Niš Novi Sad GRnet GEANT 2 Mbps or 1 Gbps (E?) SMIN Telekom Srbija 34 Mbps Podgorica SEEREN 34 Mbps 1 Gbps E Subotica 1 Gbps 1 Gbps E 1 Gbps

5. MAN backbone of Belgrade Institute Vinča 1 x C3550-12G LOSTUD Distribution node 1 x C6509 RCUB Central Node 1 x C3550-12G PMF distribution node 1 x C3550-12G Internal Optical network of Vinča International and intercity links University of Arts Faculty of Philosophy Institute of Economy Faculty of Economy Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts 1 x C3550-12G LOMED distribution node 1 x C3550-12G LOV distribution node 1 x C3550-12G LOTEH distribution node

6. Where are we now Completing the national Gbps backbone Completing the Gbps MAN networks in Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad. Starting the Gbps backbone in Kragujevac Expanding the network to high schools and even primary schools Establishing services For the first time normal international connectivity - SEEREN

7. Newest technology Avoiding the PST infrastructure and using dark fiber Low end newest technology (still 1 Gbps) 500 times higher capacity on the internal backbone and 45 times higher capacity for international connectivity in 3 years Dark fiber to individual institutions – wherever possible Investments are very low compared to POS solutions

8. Cooperation! Exceptional cooperation of all universities, Ministry of Science and Technology and Telekom Srbija Even without a legal entity, all key players were pushing in the same direction Contracts with Telekom Srbija where we guaranteed that the NREN cannot be used for any form of commercial traffic (according to GEANT AUP) Young team of experts at university computing centers throughout the country

9. Conclusions (1) From 0.1% of the backbone capacities of developed countries, we reached about 40%. Capacity of the international connectivity is below 1% of the capacity of most developed countries. All Web and FTP traffic on international links is still passing through proxy servers We believe that our technological solution has the best price/perfomance There will be a fast increase in the number of users of the network Our wish is to soon be on the better side of the digital divide – at least for the NREN

10. Conclusions (2) The development was done under the following circumstances: destroyed economy, 600.000 refugees, more than 1.000.000. unemployed and very low salaries. Donations like SEEREN were crucial. Our NREN had the best possible support, especially from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Development of Serbia Cooperation with Telekom Srbija, when clear AUP is defined in contracts, opened the access to dark fiber New services on the NREN are emerging – distant learning, GRID infrastructure, … Our Network Information System NetIS is already expanding to the SEEREN network

11. SEEREN The best way to change the less developed SEE countries Exceptional cooperation between participants – new friendships Coordination by GrNet in SEEREN and EU and NATO proposals at the highest level Thanks to EU, GrNet, DFN, Hungarnet, RoEduNet, Dante, Cesnet and CEENET for helping us to make a great step forward Best investment in the future of the region