EUMEDCONNECT3 and AFRICACONNECT2 Links
AMMAN - The Arab States Research and Education Network (ASREN) released e-Infrastructure Progress Report to review the development of the pan-Arab research and education networks via the European Commission co-funding program.
The report sheds light on the status of national research and education networks in the Arab countries and the Arab Connectivity Network being established by ASREN in cooperation with the national networks through the European support projects, including the Euro Mediterranean Technical Connectivity Project, the African Connectivity Project, technical integration, research portals, etc.
Jordan is currently connected to ASREN Point of Presence (PoP) in London at a capacity of 155 Mbps, which will be soon upgraded to 1000 Mbps based on the request of the European Commotion and the European GÉANT network, in order to connect Jordan University Network and the Synchrotron-Light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East (SESAME).
Lebanon is also connected to ASREN PoP at 500 Mbps, which will be updated to 800 Mbps, it is currently being negotiated with IDM in Lebanon for lower rates, and the cost will be co-funded by EC.
As for Palestine, ASREN is currently in discussion with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and BirZeit University to Connect to ASREN PoP in London for peering with worldwide Research and Education Traffic, following EC rules, a Request for Quotes (RFQ) was sent to operators to link Palestinian Universities at 155 Mbps, the cost will be co-funded by EC.
Egypt is connected through ESTENET Link connecting Egypt research infrastructure to GÉANT PoP in Amsterdam, Holland, ASREN is currently in discussion with TE Data and Egypt Universities Network to connect to ASREN PoP in London for peering only Research and Education Traffic with limited Internet, following EC rules, a Request for Quotes is in development for a 1000 Mbps link to be co-funded by EC.
The Algerian University Network is collected to GÉANT PoP in Catania – Italy for peering only Research and Education Traffic with limited Internet, with a current capacity of 2500 Mbps.
As for Morocco and Tunis, there are no links yet due to high costs of connectivity.
ASREN Arab Connect initiative with a long-term 10 Gbps capacity lease that connects all Arab Countries with POPs in the region.
This international connectivity serves as an opportunity for regional research and educational institutions to benefit from specialized networks without the use of traditional commercial Internet networks.
