With a speed increase of 10 times, the high-definition film version of “The Matrix” can be transmitted in just a few seconds instead of half a minute as with the current Internet2 network. If using a standard broadband network, this time could extend to two days..
By utilizing a method of transmitting information using light wavelengths (different colors of light), operators of the ultra-fast Internet2 are hoping to increase speeds by 80 times, allowing researchers to connect telescopes worldwide and perform tasks that require large bandwidth.
The lead administrator of Internet2, Douglas Van Houweling, stated that this next-generation network could be ready for operation by fall 2007.
He mentioned that this week, researchers are expected to set a new speed record of 8.8 gigabits per second, nearing the current theoretical speed limit of the Internet2 network at 10 Gbps, which is thousands of times faster than the standard home broadband networks available today.
Operating in parallel with the current Internet network, allowing universities, organizations, and researchers to share information in real-time, Internet2 continues to share the fiber optic infrastructure of the international media company Qwest Communications International.
In the new network, Internet2 will use its own fiber optic lines. Initial service providers will utilize 10 wavelengths, or light wave lengths, to transmit data on a single fiber, enabling the network to achieve speeds of 100 gigabits per second. Furthermore, Internet2 is expected to utilize up to 80 wavelengths.
Although the capability to send data using multiple wavelengths is not new, Internet2 will develop new electronic circuits, each capable of analyzing all 10 wavelengths.
With a speed increase of 10 times, the high-definition film version of “The Matrix” can be transmitted in just a few seconds instead of half a minute as with the current Internet2 network; if using a standard broadband network, this time could extend to two days.
This upgrade is driven by new research demands. For example, astronomers are trying to link telescopes around the globe to collect data on a single event. The increased speed could also help American scientists tap into the vast field of nuclear physics worldwide.
The record speed of the Internet2 network was established in February by a research group from the University of Tokyo, the University of Amsterdam, and several other research institutes. Data was transmitted from Tokyo via satellite to Amsterdam, then to Chicago, and back to Tokyo. The speed achieved surpassed the previous record of 7.99 Gbps set in November last year.
Currently, approximately 200 universities in the United States are participating in Internet2.
