SILK SciComm Tbilisi

The Silk Project: 

The Silk Project Hans Frese DESY Hamburg NATO Advisory Panel on Computer Networking SILK Task Force

Overview: 

Overview The Background of the Project The Project Concept The Parameters Chosen Results of the Tendering Process The Next Steps The Long Term

The Silk Task Force: 

The Silk Task Force Peter Kirstein, UCL, London Hans Frese, DESY, Hamburg Robert Janz, RUG, Groningen Sergey Berezhnev, MGU, Moscow Erich Peplow, FH Stralsund Walter Kaffenberger, NATO

Activity of the Network Panel: 

Activity of the Network Panel The Networks Panel has supported Network Infrastructure Grants (NIGs) for many years Was initially Russia and Eastern Europe Southern Caucasus and Central Asia are current principal areas for our larger grants Internet Connectivity has been a large part of each NIG Current bandwidths much too small but all that can be afforded from budget

Intentions of NIGs: 

Intentions of NIGs Improve National Research Net Infrastructure Not that of isolated groups or institutes Encourage National Collaboration Preferably to set up National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) Encourage International Collaboration Ever more important at the current time

Current Connectivity: 

Current Connectivity Bandwidth from NATO sources currently 64 – 512 Kbps Would like to go up by an order of magnitude at least Cost unaffordable in current model ($100k per year for 1 Megabit per second) National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) partially exist in most of the countries intended currently

Possible Technologies: 

Possible Technologies Mainly Fibre in Western Europe No affordable fibre yet in Caucasus or Central Asia (> 5 times satellite cost) Does exist in E. Europe and Russia Satellite attractive in these areas Satellite Bandwidth driving force Broadcast capability can be useful Proposed Silk Project in 2000 Based on VSAT Technology

Schematic of the Silk System: 

Schematic of the Silk System

A short primer on satellites (1): 

A short primer on satellites (1) Satellites are bent pipes in the sky 5 to 10 year lead times imply mature/old technology in the sky Fiber has taken over the oceans, satellites are looking for work Compared to fiber, satellite bandwidth is low, but ...

A short primer on satellites (2): 

A short primer on satellites (2) ... one satellite covers one third of the globe ... broadcasting to many locations is trivial ... bandwidth is simplex it can be allocated asymmetrically and shared between locations ... minimal local infrastructure requirements unobstructed view south 240 Volts with diesel backup if needed

A short primer on satellites (3): 

A short primer on satellites (3) Buying satellite bandwidth: you pay for radio frequency bandwidth and battery consumption in the sky buy in bulk to obtain discount Using a larger dish fetches more energy and improves the signal to noise ratio This allows higher density modulation which produces more Mbps per MHz Net result: 1 Mbps per year for $25K

Who gets connected?: 

Who gets connected? Funded by NATO National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) in the Partner countries Co-funded by NGOs Supranational Organisations Staged Implementation E.g. Armenia, Georgia, Kyrgyz Rep, Uzbekistan E. Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan

Satellite station configuration: 

Satellite station configuration

Financial Constraints: 

Financial Constraints It is assumed that not more than $2.5M is available from NATO Panel Budget 2001-2004 Feasibility study demonstrated that this suffices to provide a minimum of 500 Mbps*months to 8 countries Other financial or in kind contributions additional to this budget

Planned Silk Bandwidth: 

Planned Silk Bandwidth

Results of the Tendering Process: 

Results of the Tendering Process Satellite prices dropped by 40% during negotiations $25K per year for 1 Mbps have been obtained CISCO will provide $400K of equipment

Results of the Tendering Process: 

Results of the Tendering Process

GasCom: 

GasCom PROs The Yamal 100 satellite covers all of the FSU Moscow hub optimizes substantial traffic to Russia Russian Ministry of Education covers Internet access CONs The Yamal 100 satellite does not reach Western Europe Some Partner countries may be uncomfortable with Moscow hub Bad experience with spare parts access in Moscow

EurasiaSat: 

EurasiaSat PROs Covers both Asia and Western Europe Can use small earth stations (2.4m) Hamburg hub (DESY) well connected to European backbone Bandwidth on demand for e.g. teleteaching CONs Requires expensive hub station in the West ($650K)

Satellite Media Services (SMS): 

Satellite Media Services (SMS) PROs Existing hub has 24*7 service Well connected to London Internet Exchange In use by several NGOs because of price CONs 2 services with the cheaper one only covering 4 of 8 sites on a satellite nearing the end of its lifetime

The Next Steps: 

The Next Steps The negotiation phase is done Now your guidance is requested Which political considerations need to be taken into account in the final decision?

Requirements of Host Sites: 

Requirements of Host Sites Need Governmental approval to connect Earth Station to NREN Must have agreement on Frequency plan Must have suitable site with power and network connectivity Must have some capability to operate system If these not available well before installation date, will install another site first

Project Management: 

Project Management DESY will provide Technical Management Area Consultants plus Silk Task Force will provide first Process Management If project grows, may get professionals May be able to work with other funding agencies operating in the area Project Steering Committee provide high level policy management

Policy Steering Committee: 

Policy Steering Committee Will include at least all Co-Directors and representatives of funders Terms of Reference to be decided by members Policy includes many areas to discuss AUP rules, Membership, responsibilities of NRENs, move to financial sustainability, bandwidth rules, any dispute resolution

Summary: 

Summary Propose a system with 25-50 Mbps for 8 countries in Caucasus and Central Asia Investment $2.5M from NATO, but $875K additional from others System could grow with additional investment from others

Conclusions: 

Conclusions The Project is ready to start The technical and organisational framework is in place A choice has to be made