Advanced networks

What is an advanced network?

  • An Advanced Network is a very high speed communications network of regional “meet me” points (referred to as GigaPoPs) that are in turn linked to international networks.
  • They typically use optical fibre infrastructure as opposed to copper wire telephone network systems such as those used by ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line).
  • Advanced Networks are also know as Next Generation Internet (NGI) networks and, in the USA, as Internet2.

What makes an AN different?

An Advanced Network offers significantly greater access speed:

  • Dial up connection - around 50kbit/sec (50,000 bits per second)
  • 'High Speed' internet - typically 2.5Mbit/sec (2.5 million bits per second)
  • Advanced Network - from 1Gigabit/sec (1000 million bits per second) forecast to rise to around 40Gbit/sec within the next few years.

How is this like PROBE?

  • The advanced network is a separate project to probe.
  • Both address the government objective of bringing the benefits of improved connectivity.
  • PROBE is doing just this for around 2700 schools and communities, particularly rural ones through the provision of high speed Internet access (initially a minimum of 512kbit/sec with scope for expansion for secondary schools to 4Mbps) to many schools.
  • It is anticipated that users of both PROBE and the advanced network could be linked together in the future.

The world scene

Significance here of the widespread network in the northern hemisphere, and a single link to NZ.

Key message - look at the links across the northern hemisphere and the single little line to NZ - this is our future, if we decide not to be connected, or end up not connected because we do nothing, then we destine our young people to a future where we’ll be alienated from the rest of the world and a future where NZ is a thrid world state, operating on a series of cottage industries. 

Advanced Network Advantages

  • Capacity - familiar applications but many more simultaneous users
  • Speed - sheer speed of connection reducing wait time for processing etc

A school’s “loop”

National Education Network (see ppt)

  • Do you know how much your current ICT systems actually cost (including staff time for support and maintenance etc?)
  • Are you actively seeking to work with local/regional councils and business groups to find solutions in your area?
  • Who in your school/community is charged with understanding and leading this?