Alcatel-Lucent and DANTE (Delivery of Advanced Network Technology to Europe Ltd) completed the roll out of a new converged optical-data network linking national research and education networks across Europe. 
The deployment was carried out in the framework of the GÉANT2 project launched in 2004 to connect approximately 3,500 scientific sites in 34 European countries to facilitate collaborative research.
GÉANT2 is engineered for core speeds of up to 400 Gbps. DANTE has deployed the Alcatel-Lucent 1626 Light Manager (LM) DWDM platform for long to ultra long-haul applications and the 1678 Connect (MCC) that converges optical and data switching capabilities on a single platform. The solution can support Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS), which can provide high network protection by enabling fast, automated re-routing if needed.
The Alcatel-Lucent 1350 management suite controls both the 1678 MCC and the 1626 LM equipment. Operation of the 1350 management suite is carried out by the GÉANT2 Network Operation Center (NOC) in Paris, France, with support from the Alcatel-Lucent NOC in Stuttgart, Germany. The GÉANT2 project is developing monitoring and management procedures to enhance inter-domain operations between the European backbone and its partners, the National Research and Education networks.
http://www.alcatel-lucent.com
http://www.geant2.net
