Cisco announced that SURFnet has completed a technology test of Cisco's 100G DWDM solution between the National Supercomputing Center, SARA, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, using the Cisco ONS 15454 M6 Multiservice Transport Platform. The Cisco system uses dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) to unite multiple optical carrier signals on a single optical fiber, leading to several benefits including increased fiber capacity.

SURFnet enables collaboration between researchers, teachers, and students in the Netherlands using information and computing technology and together with partners offers high speed communication services between leading innovation centers and universities in Europe and throughout the world.

The test involved introducing 100G single carrier optical interfaces into SURFnet's existing optical infrastructure made up of a combination of 10G, 40G and 100G wavelengths. Once connected, the Cisco 100G DWDM solution was quickly operational without any disruption to the existing network. This demonstration shows that SURFnet can utilize its existing infrastructure and help protect its network investment while supporting new 100G data services over the existing fiber infrastructure. Utilizing this type of 100G technology allows research and education networks such as SURFnet to use its existing 50GHz spectrum band more efficiently and provide cost-effective all-optical connectivity across international borders.

This demonstration is another example of SURFnet's commitment to technology that supports the rapid growth of new applications and services in the international NREN community. This evaluation also showcases Cisco's ability to offer 100 Gigabit technologies that meet the needs of the Next Generation Internet for core, edge, data center, and transport.