News for and about the Internet2 community

[Todd Sedmak <>]

Internet2 Completes Manhattan Landing’s 100G Capabilities To Benefit 
International and U.S. Research and Education Networks

MAN LAN Supports International Demonstrations at SC11

Ann Arbor, Mich.—(Nov. 16, 2011)--Internet2 announced at the SC11 conference 
the completion of an advanced upgrade that enables 100 Gigabit per second 
capabilities to the Manhattan Landing (MAN LAN) international exchange point 
in New York City. MAN LAN, a partnership between Internet2, Indiana 
University and NYSERnet, will be better positioned to serve both 
international and U.S. research networks and allow scientists to address 
energy, climate and other research challenges, particularly when paired with 
the 100G upgrade of the Internet2 optical infrastructure. MAN LAN’s new 
capabilities will be used for the first time to support several network 
demonstrations at SC11, the premier international conference of 
high-performance computing, networking, storage and analysis, in Seattle, 
Nov. 12-18.

“As international collaborations grow in number, complexity and importance, 
it is critical to have the capacity at MAN LAN and the other international 
exchange points to bring traffic effectively into the Internet2 network and 
to its connectors, said Rob Vietzke, vice president of network services, 
Internet2. “Upgrading MAN LAN to 100G and adding more port capacity assures 
our global capabilities are matched with our newly deployed domestic 100G 
network.”

Global exchange points, like MAN LAN, form a critical intersection of 
regional, national and international communications for research and 
engineering. For example, the America Connects to Europe (ACE) project and 
GÉANT—the pan-European data network—will benefit from the increased capacity 
and the "network effect" of MAN LAN increasing diversity and quantity of 
connections.

The MAN LAN project is part of the recent completion of the world’s first 
transcontinental deployment of a 100G network using coherent technology. The 
new 8.8 Terabit per second network is equipped with 100G optical backbone 
connections. Those connections are now operational between Atlanta; New York; 
Washington D.C.; Cleveland; Chicago; Kansas City; Denver; Salt Lake City; 
Sunnyvale, Calif.; and Seattle. The 100G deployments will insure that traffic 
moves efficiently and without delay.

MAN LAN is being used to demonstrate high-resolution remote scientific 
virtualization and an open-source Ethernet Operations, Administration and 
Management implementation in the Dutch Research Consortium’s booth #642, to 
demonstrate international signaling that will support global reach of the 
Open Science Scholarship and Services Exchange in the Internet2 booth #1327, 
and for general connectivity to Europe during SC11.

Background Information on the 100G Optical Network:

Internet2 and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Science Network (ESnet) 
recently announced the deployment of the world’s first transcontinental 
deployment of 100 Gigabit per second (Gbps) using coherent technology. Built 
on Ciena’s 6500 Packet-Optical Platform, the new 8.8 Terabit per second 
network is equipped with 100 Gbps optical backbone connections. The new 8.8 
Terabit per second network, equipped with 100G optical backbone connections, 
operates between Atlanta; New York; Washington D.C.; Cleveland; Chicago; 
Kansas City; Denver; Salt Lake City; Sunnyvale, California; and Seattle.

Internet2 uses fiber strands on Level 3’s fiber-optic network as well as 
Level 3’s network management support to enable its new national 8.8 Terabit 
Optical System and 100 Gigabit Ethernet Network. Internet2 utilizes more than 
10,000 miles of fiber on the Level 3 national footprint and will obtain 
additional miles for the next three years as needed. Level 3 installed the 
8.8 terabit optical equipment and provides 24/7 monitoring and field support 
to these facilities. Level 3 also provides colocation facilities and power 
for the network.

Internet2’s network upgrade to 100G technology on a nationwide scale will 
keep pace with the exponential growth in scientific research traffic being 
driven by the nation’s research labs and universities. Internet2’s network 
will also extend to support the country’s community anchor institutions 
including libraries, hospitals, K-12 schools, community colleges and public 
safety organizations as part of its United States Unified Community Anchor 
Network (U.S. UCAN) project.

About Internet2
Internet2, whose network is owned by U.S. research universities, is one of 
the worldʼs most advanced networking consortium for global researchers and 
scientists who develop breakthrough Internet technologies and applications, 
and spark tomorrowʼs essential innovations. Internet2 consists of more than 
450 U.S. universities; corporations; government agencies; laboratories; 
higher learning; and other major national, regional and state research and 
education networks; and organizations representing more than 50 countries. 
Internet2 and Manhattan Landing are registered trademarks. To discover more 
about Internet2, go to www.internet2.edu.

About MAN LAN
MAN LAN is an international research and education exchange point that 
interconnects a variety of networks across the globe. By providing this 
critical connection point, MAN LAN enables researchers to partner and 
collaborate with their peers around the world. Internet2, through a 
partnership with the New York State Education and Research Network (NYSERNet) 
and Indiana University operates MAN LAN.

Media contact:
Todd Sedmak
Internet2
202-331-5373 or 



Todd Sedmak
Internet2
Communications Manager
202-331-5373