RNP > RNP News > 2001 News

Connection to the Internet2 was the happening of the year

2001 was a year of important accomplishments to RNP. Before anything, it represented the consolidation of RNP2 backbone, with new national and international connections, access to the North American Internet2 network and investments in projects and experiments benefiting from the infrastructure implanted or adding advantages to the functioning of the network. It also meant increased trust on the part of the government and the society in the work developed by the National Teaching and Research Network.

The backbone, which had been structured in 2000, was constantly updated throughout the year, following an increased demand in order to meet the needs of RNP2 network users at all times. All in all, 17 of RNP's Points of Presence had the traffic capacity of their links enlarged. The capacity of international data traffic also increased from 8 to 200 Mbps. In February, the four 2 Mbps lines connecting RNP's backbone to the United States were replaced by a 155 Mbps line. In August, one more connection, of 45 Mbps, was established with the United States as a result of the Americas Path Network (AMPATH) Project.

The new international links permitted RNP's access to the North American Internet2 network. On August 29, 2001 the connection allowing data exchange between RNP2 and the Internet 2 was made. This connection was established through the access of Florida International University, as part of the AMPATH Project.

The data exchange with commercial networks was also made larger. In June RNP started participating in OptiGlobe's Point of Traffic Exchange in São Paulo, the OptIX-LA (OptiGlobe Internet eXchange - Latin American).

To crown the year, RNP received compliments in the Tundisi Report, prepared by a commission created by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) with the aim of evaluating and devising strategies to the research institutes connected to this ministry. Although RNP was not originally the target of this study, it was remebered by the commission as having great relevance to the country. The group led by Dr. José Galízia Tundisi recommended that the MCT conclude, as soon as possible, the process of qualifying RNP as a Social Organization, which would permit "an effective management of the technological research projects being carried out through this network [RNP2]". The Tundisi Report was made public in September during the National Conference on Science, Technology and Innovation.

CNPq, RNP and SocInfo release bid notices to advanced networks and digital contents

In October, the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) released two bid notices with the aim of sponsoring projects in the field of Internet networks. One of them, "Technology, Products and Information and Communication Services, Applied to Advanced Networks," has RNP's support. The other, "Technologies for Digital Contents Development and Research," had the partnership of the Information Society Program (SocInfo).

45 out of the 387 projects presented as a response to the bid notice on digital contents were selected. In the field of applications to advanced networks 8 out of the 39 proposals presented were chosen. Regarding the latter, RNP will offer connectivity through RNP2 backbone and the High Performance Metropolitan Networks (ReMAVs) besides giving support in terms of quality of service (QoS) and other pilot projects.

RNP itself had two of its projects approved in the digital contents bid notice: "Accessible Library" and "ORÉ - Organize, Reflect and Evolve." The first is a partnership with the National Library to make part of its collection available to visually impaired people. The second, coordinated by a group from PUC in Rio de Janeiro, aims at developing a groupware application to the Association Saúde Criança Renascer.

[RNP, 12.21.2001]