OneNet First in Nation to Connect to 100G Network for Education and Research
OneNet, Oklahoma’s advanced data network, is positioning Oklahoma on the global forefront of technology by being the first to connect to the nation’s new open, national-scale, software-defined, 100G network.
Built and operated by Internet2, the new upgrade is a 100G-enabled and 8.8-terabit-per-second optical network, making it the nation’s fastest coast-to-coast network for education and research. Internet2 is a member-owned advanced technology community that connects hundreds of thousands of community institutions across the United States.
OneNet jumped ahead of Internet2’s scheduled launch and was the first member network to make the connection.
“OneNet has a history of taking the lead in bringing the most advanced technology to Oklahoma,” said Vonley Royal, OneNet’s executive director. “We are excited about being the first in the nation to make the connection. This is another way OneNet strives to keep Oklahoma’s education and research communities a step ahead of the nation in technology and innovation.”
The upgraded Internet2 connection is designed to remove barriers for students, educators and research scientists and provide technology that enables their work and encourages creativity and innovation.
“This connection gives our state’s students and faculty a boost in their educational and research pursuits,” said Chancellor Glen D. Johnson, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. “Every opportunity we can provide our students and educators contributes to their success and our state’s future. We are very pleased that we can create these types of opportunities through OneNet.”
OneNet connects hundreds of education and research institutions, as well as rural health care and public service agencies, across the state of Oklahoma. The upgraded network will offer these groups enhanced computing capabilities, empowering them to advance their missions and better serve their communities.
“Through our partnership with Internet2, OneNet offers extraordinary broadband capabilities and technology solutions designed to support the complex computing needs of our state’s educators and researchers,” said James Deaton, OneNet’s chief technology officer. “The upgraded network will support advanced applications that weren’t possible until now.”
OneNet will leverage the partnership with Internet2 to ensure Oklahoma’s network capabilities keep pace with the state’s research and education initiatives. In Oklahoma, major research projects depend on high broadband capabilities for big data movement within the state, across the country and around the world.
Two of those projects are the Realtime Storm Forecast Experiment, led by the University of Oklahoma’s Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms, and ongoing data analysis by the Oklahoma Center for High Energy Physics. Their bandwidth needs surpassed Oklahoma’s network capability prior to the 100G upgrade.
“These two projects can consume a combined capacity of almost 20 Gbps – roughly double the peak speed of the fastest network pathway in the state until this new 100G capability became available,” said Henry Neeman, director of the OU Supercomputing Center for Education and Research, a division of OU Information Technology.
“OneNet is proud to be a partner in these research projects and similar initiatives in communities throughout Oklahoma,” said Royal. “We hope OneNet’s new network capabilities will spur innovation and economic growth across our state.”
Education, research, health care, and public service organizations can learn more about connecting to the upgraded network by calling OneNet at 405-225-9444 or toll-free at 888-566-3638.
OneNet is a division of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, operated in cooperation with the Office of Management and Enterprise Services.
Media Contact: April Goode
405.225.9251 april@onenet.net