QUANTUM

QUAlity Network Technology for User Oriented Multi-Media

April 1997 –  May 2000

1. To carry out the trials of the new protocols and technology developments that will improve QoS and optimise bandwidth utilisation, both in a laboratory environment and in controlled experiments over the wide area network
2. Based on the results of these tests, to specify and procure the network interconnections that will supersede TEN-34 for the participating national research networks
3. To validate the use of improved QoS management in a large scale operational environment, while still handling general IP traffic, using access bandwidths up to 155Mbps.

Definition, preparation and delivery of TEN-155: a much higher capacity network than TEN-34 but at similar cost (early 1997 – December 1998)

Definition and execution of Quantum Technical Programme, QTP (early 1997 – May 2000), by joint TERENA/DANTE Task Force TANT (Testing of Advanced Networking Technologies)

• April 1997: Quantum outline proposal submitted to EC
• December 1997: positive evaluation by the EC of Quantum outline proposal; specification of TEN-155 service agreed; TEN-155 Consortium created
• May 1998: QUANTUM Policy Committee decisions on: a set pricing scheme; the principle that ATM will be used as a bandwidth management tool to optimise the use of the SDH circuits; individual national research networks will have the choice between ATM or IP-over-SDH access to the network.
• October 1998: working items of QTP Task Force defined
• December 1998: TEN-155 operational
• May 2000: Final deliverable QTP delivered

RCCN (Portugal)
RESTENA (Luxembourg)
RedIRIS (Spain)
RENATER (France)
SURFnet (Netherlands)
SWITCH (Switzerland)
UKERNA/JANET (UK)

Associated Partners:
CERN
Telebit Communications A/S
ERCIM

QUANTUM Developments as reported in TWoD