Editing GÉANT

{{Short description|European computer network for research and education}}
{{Other uses|Geant (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox organization 
| name          = GÉANT
| abbreviation  = <!-- is it? or a French pun? --> 
| image_border  = 
| logo          = File:GÉANT logo.jpg
| logo_alt           = GEANT Logo
| formation     = 2015
| leader_title   = CEO
| leader_name  = [[Lise Fuhr]] (2024-)<ref>[https://connect.geant.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GEANT-CONNECT-47.pdf CONNECT, 47]</ref>
| purpose       = Research network 
| region_served = [[Europe]] 
| website       = {{URL|http://www.geant.org/}}
}}

'''GÉANT''' (''Gigabit European Academic Network'') is the pan-[[Europe]]an data [[Computer network|network]] for the [[research]] and [[education]] community. It interconnects [[national research and education networks]] (NRENs) across Europe, enabling collaboration on projects ranging from biological science, to earth observation, to arts and culture. The GÉANT project combines a high-bandwidth, high-capacity 50,000&nbsp;km network with a growing range of services.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geant.net/services/ |title=users |publisher=Geant.net |date=2012-12-17 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> These allow researchers to collaborate, working together wherever they are located. Services include identity and trust, multi-domain monitoring [[perfSONAR|perfSONAR MDM]], [[Dynamic circuit network|dynamic circuits]] and [[roaming]] via the [[eduroam]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eduroam.org/ |title=eduroam |publisher=eduroam |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> service.

Together with European NRENs, GÉANT connects 50 million users in over 10,000 institutions. Through links to research networks in other regions (such as [[Internet2]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.internet2.edu/ |title=internet2.edu |publisher=internet2.edu |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> and [[ESnet]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.es.net/ |title=es.net |publisher=es.net |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> in the US, AfricaConnect<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.africaconnect.eu/pages/home.aspx |title = AfricaConnect - Home}}</ref> in Africa, TEIN<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teincc.org/teincc/index.do |title=Tein*Cc |language=ko |publisher=Teincc.org |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> in Asia-Pacific and [[RedCLARA]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redclara.net |title=redclara.net |publisher=redclara.net |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> in Latin America), GÉANT enables collaboration between researchers in over half the world's countries.

Co-funded by the [[European Commission]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu |title=ec.europa.eu |publisher=European Commission |date=2011-12-21 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> and Europe's NRENs, the GÉANT network was built and is operated by the GÉANT Association. The GÉANT project is a collaboration between 38 partners.

==History==
The GÉANT project began in November 2000, entered full production operation in December 2001 (fully replacing a network called TEN-155). Originally due to finish in October 2004, it was subsequently extended until April 2005.

The second generation network, named GÉANT2, began in September 2004 and continued through 2009, growing the network to 30 national networks in 34 countries.

The next GÉANT project (GN3) began on 1 April 2009 and continued until April 2013. This was then superseded by the GN3plus project which was scheduled to run for two years. It is funded under the EC's seventh research and development [[Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development|Research Framework Programme]] (often referred to as FP7).

This was followed by the GN4 series of projects (GN4-1, GN4-2, and GN4-3) funded within the seven-year Horizon 2020 Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA). 

The project is now in its fifth iteration (GN5) funded under the seven-year Horizon Europe FPA. GN5-1 ran from January 2023 to December 2024. GN5-2, the current project, started in January 2025. 

==Technology==
As well as providing the high-bandwidth links across Europe, the GÉANT network also acts as a [[testbed]] for new technology.

It was the first "hybrid" network deployed on an international scale, combining routed [[Internet Protocol|IP]] and switched infrastructure.{{citation needed|date=August 2014}} This enables the network to offer general traffic alongside virtual "private" network paths for projects, such as the [[Large Hadron Collider]], which have particular requirements involving dedicated bandwidth, security and flexibility.

GÉANT supported native [[IPv6]] since 2002 and [[multicast]] IPv6 since 2004. It is involved in network research, in areas such as carrier class network technologies, photonic switching, federated network architectures and virtualisation.

In 2013 a substantial network migration program was completed, meaning users could be offered multiple 100&nbsp;Gbit/s links, with the core network supporting 500&nbsp;Gbit/s and a [[network planning and design|network design]] that will support up to 8&nbsp;Tbit/s.

Already, over 1 [[Petabyte]] of data are transferred every day via the GÉANT [[backbone network]].

==Participants==
The GÉANT project is a collaboration between 50 partners:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://about.geant.org/membership/members-associates-general-assembly-representatives|title=Géant members|publisher=geant.org|access-date=2022-08-03}}</ref> 37 European [[NREN]], [[Israel Inter-University Computation Center|IUCC]] (representing [[Israel]]), [[NORDUnet]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nordu.net |title=NORDUnet |publisher=Nordu.net |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref> (representing the five Nordic countries), and 11 associate members. 

The full list of NREN project partners are available on the website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geant.org/Projects/GEANT_Project_GN4/Pages/Home.aspx |title=GÉANT Partners |publisher=Geant.org |date=2018-07-02 |access-date=2017-07-02}}</ref>

==Global links==
GÉANT links to research networks in other world regions, including:
* North America ([[Internet2]], [[ESnet]], [[NISN]] and [[CANARIE]])
* [[RedCLARA|Latin America]]
* North Africa and the Middle East<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eumedconnect.net/ |title=eumedconnect.net |publisher=eumedconnect.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207074028/http://www.eumedconnect.net/ |archive-date=7 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[UbuntuNet Alliance for Research and Education Networking|South Africa/Kenya]]
* The South Caucasus
* Central Asia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://caren.dante.net/ |title=caren.dante.net |publisher=caren.dante.net |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref>
* Asia Pacific<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tein3.net/ |title=tein3.net |publisher=tein3.net |date=2012-08-26 |access-date=2014-08-05}}</ref>

These links not only help international research collaboration but also aid with projects that deliver societal benefit, such as e-health, telemedicine and weather forecasting/disaster warning systems. Allowing researchers to work within their own countries also stems migration from less developed countries, helping bridge the digital divide.

==Example projects==
GÉANT is used by research communities, such as:
* High-energy physics<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geant.net/Users/Particle_Physics/Pages/Home.aspx |title=High-Energy Physics |publisher=Geant.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019065934/http://www.geant.net/Users/Particle_Physics/Pages/Home.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Bio-medical sciences<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geant.net/Users/bio-medical_sciences/Pages/Home.aspx |title=Home |publisher=Geant.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110024827/http://www.geant.net/Users/bio-medical_sciences/Pages/Home.aspx |archive-date=10 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Health<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geant.net/Users/Medicineandhealthcare/Pages/home.aspx |title=Health |publisher=Geant.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329045311/http://www.geant.net/Users/Medicineandhealthcare/Pages/home.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Radio Astronomy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geant.net/Users/Radio_Astronomy/Pages/Home.aspx |title=Radio Astronomy |publisher=Geant.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329045839/http://www.geant.net/Users/Radio_Astronomy/Pages/Home.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Earth Observation and Early Warning<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geant.net/Users/EarthObservation/Pages/Home.aspx |title=Earth Observation and Early Warning |publisher=Geant.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130329045834/http://www.geant.net/Users/EarthObservation/Pages/Home.aspx |archive-date=29 March 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Arts and culture<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geant.net/Users/ArtsandCulture/Pages/Home.aspx |title=Arts and Culture |publisher=Geant.net |access-date=2014-08-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029014605/http://www.geant.net/Users/ArtsandCulture/Pages/Home.aspx |archive-date=29 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.geant.org }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geant}}
[[Category:History of the Internet]]
[[Category:Information technology organisations based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Internet in Europe]]
[[Category:National research and education networks]]
[[Category:Research and development in Europe]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Cambridgeshire]]