March 15, 2001

Contacts:

Tom DeFanti, EVL
University of Illinois, Chicago
tom@uic.edu
+1-312-996-9002

Joel Mambretti, iCAIR
Northwestern University
j-mambretti@northwestern.edu
+1-847-467-3911

The Electronic Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois at Chicago, the International Center for Advanced Internet Research at Northwestern University, and GigaPort/SURFnet Partner on Advanced International Networking

CHICAGO (March 15, 2001) -- Today, a partnership was announced that will link Chicago to the Netherlands using the world's most advanced network research links. This project is the first step in creating StarLight, a next generation Science Technology and Research Transit Access Point (STAR TAP, www.startap.net), a National Science Foundation funded facility managed by Tom DeFanti of the University of Illinois at Chicago. The STAR TAP supports global advanced scientific research. StarLight will provide for powerful new networking capabilities for a wide range of advanced scientific applications, and it will prepare the way for new generation of advanced industrial applications.

The first international link to StarLight will be developed by GigaPort/SURFnet GigaPort was established by Dutch government, trade and industry, educational institutions and research institutes to give the Netherlands a head start in the development and use of advanced, innovative technology. SURFnet is the national advanced networking organization of the Netherlands. In a related announcement, GigaPort selected preferred suppliers for global Internet connectivity, which the Netherlands and Chicago. This connectivity will include a 2.5 Gbit/s lambda connection to StarLight, the world first such trans-Atlantic connection dedicated to advanced research. This advanced connectivity will allow researchers to experiment with new types of technology for a completely optical Internet. The connection may be upgraded to a 10 Gbit/s capacity in 2002. Through STAR TAP GigaPort has connections to several high-speed networks in North America and Asia.

StarLight will support such projects as iGRID, which demonstrates how scientific collaborators are taking optimal advantage of global connectivity to empower collaborative solutions to complex problems. These collaborations are necessary so that societies around the world can benefit from enhanced interaction and communications for broad-based education, healthcare, environmental and economic development.

StarLight is being developed by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory of the University of Illinois at Chicago, the International Center of Advanced Internet research (iCAIR, www.icair.org) at Northwestern University and the Math and Computer Science Division of Argonne National Laboratory, in partnership with Canada's CANARIE and Holland's SURFnet. These organizations and others will use StarLight for advanced networking research and to develop powerful new types of applications. For example, iCAIR showcased world's first prototype Global Internet Digital Video Network (GiDVN) as part of the International GRID (iGRID) at the INET2000 Conference in Yokohama Japan. The GiDVN demonstrations include a broad range of Internet-based advanced media technologies being developed by major research organizations world-wide.

About STAR TAP/StarLight
The Science, Technology and Research Transit Access Point (STAR TAP) is the National Science Foundation (NSF sponsored international connection point managed by the Electronic Visualization Lab at the University of Illinois, Chicago (www.evl.uic.edu, www.startap.net). StarLight, the next generation STAR TAP, will be based on state-of-the-art optical networking technology (www.startap.net/starlight). STAR TAP continues operation as the foremost international next-generation internet exchange point for research and education networks. To grow beyond what's possible today, STAR TAP's StarLight project enables us to focus on the emerging global lambda grid. StarLight is an experimental testbed and facility in support of grid-intensive e-Science applications, network performance measurement and analysis, and computing and networking technology evaluations. StarLight is being developed by the Electronic Visualization Laboratory (EVL) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), the International Center for Advanced Internet Research (iCAIR) at Northwestern University, and the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. STAR TAP is a service mark of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees. StarLight is a service mark of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and Northwestern University Board of Trustees.

About iCAIR
iCAIR, established several corporate partners, is engaged in projects with research partners throughout the world to accelerate the development and implementation of advanced Internet technologies and services (www.icair.org). Northwestern University, established in 1851, is a leading private research and teaching institution with 17,700 undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled in 12 schools and colleges. It is considered one of the top ranked institutions for effective use of technology. For more information about Northwestern University, (www.northwestern.edu).

About GigaPort
GigaPort is a joint project of the Dutch government, trade and industry, educational institutions and research institutes. The aim of GigaPort is to give the Netherlands a head start in the development and use of advanced, innovative technology. GigaPort Network, part of GigaPort, counts itself among the world's leading research networks and offers companies and institutions a state-of-the-art test environment for developing new (network) services. GigaPort is implemented under the authority of the GigaPort Steering Committee. GigaPort Network is realised by SURFnet; GigaPort Applications by the Telematica Instituut. (www.gigaport.nl.)

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