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                  * *      A bi-monthly electronic news bulletin
                 *   *     reporting on the activities of DANTE,
                *          the company that provides international
               *           telecommunications services for the 
THE WORKS OF D A N T E     European research community.

No.2, February 1994        Editor: Josefien Bersee
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*EuropaNET Developments*

The number of IP connections in EuropaNET, DANTE's international 
network service, is steadily increasing. The decision by NORDUnet 
to acquire a 2 Mbps connection from 1 July 1994 has been welcomed 
by DANTE. 

CERN, the European Laboratory of Particle Physics, Geneva, has had 
a 1 Mbps connection to EuropaNET since 4 February.

News from the Intercontinental "Front" 

A contract for the provision of a 64 kbps line between EuropaNET 
and KREONET, the Korean research network, has been signed between 
DANTE and the CEC (DG-XIII). The line will be the first direct 
link between EU countries and an R&D network in the Pacific Rim. 
The aim is to stimulate the - so far - relatively weak co-
operation between European and Korean researchers. 

The 1.5 Mbps link between Geneva and Washington has been 
operational since 1 January. The 2 Mbps line between Amsterdam and 
Washington has been declared operational by PTT Telecom; 
connection to the Washington GIX is imminent. 

DANTE's EuropaNET access point in Amsterdam provides a route for 
traffic between countries such as Spain and DANTE's US circuit as 
well as forming the DANTE half of the EMPB/Ebone interconnection. 
This access has been running at 2 Mbps since 12 January. The daily 
peak traffic regularly reaches 1.3 Mbps (average over the busiest 
15 minutes period).

*High Speed Progress*

Preparations for the procurement of a next generation backbone for 
the European research community (34/155 Mbps) are progressing. 
Earlier this month DANTE secured approval from the EuroCAIRN 
(European Co-operation for Academic and Industrial Research 
Networking) Project Board for a proposal to produce a study 
report.The target of this report is to specify information and 
requirements necessary to support funding proposals and the formal 
procurement of a high-speed backbone. 

The study will address such issues as availability of circuits and 
services from PNOs, topology planning, connectivity requirements 
to other continents, options with respect to management, operation 
and payment of the service, and an assessment of relevant 
applications.

In addition DANTE sent a letter to all major European PTOs in 
December last year requesting proposals in response to an open-
ended specification for high-speed services. Three consortia-based 
responses were the result. Even though little hard information was 
provided, all three consortia expressed their wish to engage in a 
dialogue with a view to refining the requirements and their 
responses.

*DANTE's Technical Advisory Group*

The DANTE Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is a small group of 
experts from the European research networking community who are 
invited to provide the company with advice on the technical 
aspects of its current operational network services and the ways 
in which they might be developed. The advice to DANTE from the 
members of the TAG is intended to supplement the feedback that 
DANTE expects to receive as a result of presentations and 
discussions in meetings of IETF and RARE Working Groups, RIPE and 
similar open bodies.

It is intended that there will be some rotation of membership so 
that different views and experience are introduced from time to 
time. The size of the group is deliberately kept small in order 
for it to be effective. The members are invited in their personal 
capacity and do not formally represent the organisations that 
employ them. 

The initial TAG consists of Erik-Jan Bos (SURFnet), Thomas Brunner 
(SWITCH), Bob Day (JNT), Olivier Martin (CERN). They have been 
chosen especially for their IP expertise because this is most 
relevant to DANTE's current priorities. As new technologies (for 
example, ATM) start to be used for operational services, it may be 
appropriate to select new members who have specialised in other 
areas. A similar kind of group will be set up in the area of 
Applications.

*MHS Co-ordination Service = MailFLOW* 

MailFLOW is the new name for DANTE's global MHS Co-ordination 
Service. DANTE provides MailFLOW to its customers under a contract 
with SWITCH. The MailFLOW service ensures efficient inter-working 
between R&D X.400 e-mail services all over the world.  

*New DANTE staff*

Jane Beavis (GB) has taken up the position of Secretary/ 
Administrator. Her experience includes working at British 
Aerospace, Stevenage as Executive Secretary and as Office Manager 
in a small building surveying practice in Cambridge. 

On February 14, David Barham (GB) joined the Network 
Operations Department. He will assist Jan van der Ven in setting 
up the liaison desk/trouble ticket function. David has previous 
experience in the area of customer support and as a system 
administrator.
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For more information please contact:  

DANTE  
Lockton House
Clarendon Road  
Cambridge             Tel +44 223 302 992
CB2 2BH               Fax +44 223 303 005
United Kingdom        E-mail dante@dante.org.uk
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